ONE HUNDREDTH 



ANNIVERSARY EXERCISES 



OF 



fee JR&ptist Pfyu-rofy* 



FLEMINGTON, N. d 



dUNE 17th, 18th AND 19th, 1898, 



/-W-Wz-W-W 



FLEMINGTON, N. J.: 
Published by the Church. 



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PRESS OF 

JOHN E. ROWE & SON, 
Newark, N. J. 



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" One generation shall praise Thy works to another, 
and shall declare Thy mighty acts." — Psalm 145,4. 

1 ' We lift our trusting eyes 

From the hills our fathers trod, 
To the Sabbath in the skies, 
To the dwelling place of God. 



Some months before its birthday 

had arrived, the flemington church began its 

preparations for the- observance of the 

day by the appointment of the 

following Committees: 

General Committee 

Howard Sutphin George E. Britton 

Vandevier Higgins William H. Hall 

J. Wesley Britton Asa Suydam 

Chester Van Syckel L. Raymond Higgins 

William Fisher 

Entertainment Committee 

Mrs. Wm. S. Riley Mrs. Howard Sutphin 

Miss Mary Killgore Miss Louie Higgins 

Miss Hannah Suydam Miss Mary Gray 

Mrs. Davis Hanson Mrs. Wm. Price 

Mrs. E. D. Knower Mrs. George Dean 

Mrs. H. A. Fluck Miss Ella Carkhuff 

Mrs. George Wagoner Miss Ella C. Higgins 

Miss Annie J. Higgins Miss Louie McCann 

Mrs. J. B. Ramsey Mrs. Jacob V. Higgins 

Mrs. C. Van Syckel Mrs. Chas. F. Hopewell 

Mrs. J. W. Britton Mrs. Wm. J. Suydam 

Mrs. Wm. Fisher Miss Rebecca Shrope 

Mr. J. W. Britton 

Mr. Wm. S. Riley 

Mr. E. D. Knower 

Mr. J. Schenck Higgins 



Musical Director, Miss Agnes H. Rice. 



PUBLICATION COMMITTEE'S 
REPORT, 



IMMEDIATELY after its centennial celebration, 
the Flemington Church appointed the under- 
signed a committee to compile and publish the pro- 
ceedings of the three anniversary days. We have 
delayed until now the issuing of this memorial 
volume in order to make the report as complete as 
possible. Some of the addresses we reluctantly 
abridge, and only abstracts of others were furnished 
by their authors. We believe, however, that the 
book now put into the hands of members and 
friends will be a reminder of an occasion that many 
thoroughly enjoyed, and we trust it may prove an 
impulse to the discharge of present and future 
obligations. 

As these records pass from our hands into the 
hands of the publishers, our church is just welcom- 
ing to its trusts and toils, its new pastor Rev. L. D. 
Temple, of Brattleboro, Vermont. He begins his 
labors with us to-day, and is to be formally recog- 
nized October 20th. We are persuaded that we voice 



8 Memorials af a Century. 

the feelings of our entire membership in the hope 
and prayer that the shepherd who thus comes to 
lead the flock over into the new century, may find 
for himself and his people, just ahead, the green pas- 
tures and the still waters of gospel grace. 

Over this account of our centennial, and over the 
bits of history glimpsed on these pages, we put the 
apostolic ascription : "To the praise of the glory of 

His grace." 

ASA SUYDAM, 

J. W. BRITTON, 

J. C. BRITTON, 

Committee. 
Flemington, Oct. i, 1898. 




CENTENNIAL EXERCISES, 



THE committee appointed by the church to 
arrange a centennial program, found itself 
embarrassed from the outset by the fact that the 
church was pastorless. Believing that it was best 
for some one person to have charge of the public 
services, and that such person ought to be familiar 
with the facts in the case, they requested Dr. T. E. 
Vassar, a former pastor, and the one who conducted 
the seventy-fifth anniversary service, to preside. 
He therefore opened the hundredth birthday exer- 
cises on Friday morning, June 17th, at to o'clock. 
Nature kindly smiled on the occasion by giving 
weather of ideal comfort and beauty, and at the very 
first session the spacious auditorium was fairly well 
filled. Prof. Chapell of the Gordon Training school, 
Boston, a former pastor, read the 90th psalm and 
led in prayer. The singing was conducted by Mr. 
Baltus P. Stout, of Philadelphia, a Flemington boy, 
and in his young manhood a member of the church 
in whose festival he came back to share. Mrs. J. 
Smith Hart, Miss Kate Opdycke, Miss Evangeline 



io Memorials of a Century. 

Norton and Miss Bertha Rittenhouse, also rendered 
acceptable and appreciated assistance in the musical 
part of the service during the three days. Some of 
Zion's ancient melodies, and other selections that 
were new, were so sung by the choir and these 
helpers as not only to please the ear but also to stir 
the soul. 

The special features of the first meeting were the 
Historical Sketch and the Treasurer's Report. The 
Historical Sketch was prepared by Prof. L. R. 
Higgins, of Chicago University, a member of the 
church. In his necessary absence, it was read by 
deacon Chester Van Syckel. The Treasurer's Report 
was presented by Treasurer Howard Sutphin. Both 
are given entire. 




HISTORICAL SKETCH, 



THE eastern and southern parts of this State 
were settled years before the north-western 
part. Flemington, therefore, is not an old 
town, relatively considered. The recognized 
founder of the village is Samuel Fleming. In 
1756 he purchased land here. As he kept a 
tavern, the little settlement was naturally called 
"Flemings," and finally Flemington. Samuel 
Fleming came from Ireland and brought with 
him a boy, Thomas Lowrey, who acquired con- 
siderable property and influence. In 1765, nine 
years after the purchase made by Fleming, 
Thomas Lowrey and James Eddy gave a piece 
of land for a Baptist meeting house. The lot 
was situated on the northeast corner of Main 
street and the New Brunswick road, where the 
present church edifice stands. Here a house was 
built in 1766, under the direction of Thomas 
Lowrey, James Eddy, Gershom Lee, Jonathan 
Higgins, John Jewell, and others. At that time 
there probably were not ten houses in the set- 
tlement. The township was then named 
Amwell, afterwards Raritan. Hopewell and 



12 Memorials of a Century. 

King-wood were the nearest Baptist churches, 
and had been in existence, the one sixty years, 
the other thirty. 

The new enterprise was called the ' ' Baptist 
Meeting of Amwell," and was supplied with 
preaching by neighboring ministers, chiefly from 
Kingwood and Hopewell. Rev. David Sutton, 
of Kingwood, preached for some time during the 
War of the Revolution ; he was finally shut out 
of the meeting house by Mr. Jewell, because he 
was thought to be friendly to the British. 

This first church building was a small, rude, 
wooden structure, not unlike the old-fashioned 
country school house. But it was destined to 
stand on that spot for seventy years, the rallying 
place of a few faithful ones, who succeeded in 
keeping alive a spark of interest for thirty years 
until the little band felt justified in constituting 
a church. 

In those revolutionary days the American sol- 
diers for a time used the house as a barracks and 
a hospital, and the marks of their fire arms were 
visible on the rough floor as late as 1825. 

Following Mr. Sutton came Rev. Nicholas 
Cox, then of Kingwood. He regularly supplied 
the church a part of his time, but in 1790 or '91, 
declared himself a Universal ist. Then followed 
four years of depression and discouragement, 
during which there was no regular preaching, 
except that for ten months the Rev. James 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. ij 

Ewing, of Hopewell, preached once in four weeks. 

It need be no cause for surprise that thus over 
thirty years elapsed between the erection of a 
building and the organization of a church. The 
war with its preliminary excitement, its pro- 
longed disturbance, and subsequent confusion 
brought uncertainty and unrest. After the war 
the population of the State increased but slowly, 
for the young people were attracted to Central 
New York and Western Pennsylvania — the west 
of that day. In 1790 the population of Hunter- 
don County was about 20,000; in 1800 it was 
only 21, 100. 

' ' Besides, religion was at a low ebb all over 
the country. French infidelity attained the 
largest influence which it ever possessed in this 
country. The habits of the people were loose 
and irreligious. Intemperance prevailed to a 
frightful extent. The war had brought rum in- 
to general use." Distilleries were common and 
were sometimes operated by Christian men. 
Taverns were very numerous. 

Those can hardly be called "good old days," 
and yet doubtless there was as much real piety 
and self-sacrificing service for God and His 
cause as can be found after the lapse of a hun- 
dred years. 

For information regarding the organization of 
the church we must turn to an old, discolored 
volume, which bears upon its title page the 



14- Memorials of a Century. 

words, "Am well Baptist Church Book, June 19, 
1798." The records of these early days are 
meagre and imperfect, and from them we can 
glean material for only a rapid sketch. 

In December, 1795, Rev. Garner A. Hunt 
took the charge of the Flemington meeting (as 
the record puts it) in conjunction with Kingwood 
Church, and preached one-third of his time at 
Flemington. His work here was attended with 
success. The people came to hear him. The 
meeting house, which had been fast going to 
ruin, was repaired. Mr. Hunt baptised six per- 
sons, viz., Jane Merrell, Nathaniel Higgins, 
Sarah Ott, William Merrell, Elizabeth Harten- 
brook, and John Runyan. The Hopewell and 
Kingwood Churches dismissed nine members, 
viz., John Carr, John Manners, Rachel Manners, 
Sarah Sutphin, Hannah Wolverton, Anna Hig- 
gins, Elizabeth Yard, Anna Craven, and Mar- 
garet Wilson. These fifteen persons united in 
forming a Baptist Church on the nineteenth of 
June, 1798. Revs. Ewing, Hunt and Harpen- 
ding assisted in the formation of the Church. 
On July 2, 1798, John Manners was appointed 
clerk ; John Carr and John Runyon were elected 
deacons. On August 4, 1798, the first trustees 
were appointed, viz., John Carr, John Runyon, 
Nathaniel Higgins, William Merrell, Judiah 
Higgins and Nicholas Ott. Rev. G. A. Hunt 
was recognized as the pastor. His salary was 






Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 15 

raised by subscription papers, and does not 
appear to have been a fixed sum. 

A few entries in the old minutes are interest- 
ing. A glimpse at the musical part of the 
service is afforded by the statement that on 
August 3, 1799, John Carr was appointed to read 
the lines, and Nicholas Ott,to raise the psalms. 
The compensation which the sexton received is 
shown by this entry: " October 5, 1799, agreed 
to pay Frank three dollars for the ensuing year, 
to clean the house and take care of it." Frank 
was evidently a black man, as is shown by his 
lack of a surname. 

Efforts were put forth to preserve strict church 
discipline. A rule was made December 1, 1801, 
to call on all male members, who absented them- 
selves from meetings of business three times in 
succession, to give their reasons for such con- 
duct. It was resolved, December 4, ,1802, that 
after the monthly meeting is opened no member 
should leave the house without permission from 
the moderator. 

Even theological views did not escape atten- 
tion. In 1805, a charge was made against a cer- 
tain brother for holding doctrines not agreeable 
to the articles of this church, and a few months 
later he was ''excommunicated." This word, 
with a Romish flavor, was the term then in use, 
and it repeatedly appears upon the records until 
18 1 7, when it gave place to the word "excluded." 



1 6 Memorials of a Century. 

Mr. Hunt resigned November 5, 1803, after 
eight years of service on this field. His minis- 
trations met with marked acceptance. He 
baptized in all fifty-six persons. 

In February, 1804, Rev. James McLaughlin 
was invited by a joint call from this church and 
the Kingwood Church to lead the two flocks. 
He served here five years, and welcomed twenty- 
five new members into the fold. 

In 1 8 10, the church called Rev. Daniel F. 
Sweeny, as stated supply for one year, which 
was the usual length of time for engaging their 
preacher. After some misunderstanding and 
correspondence Mr. Sweeny came, but remained 
only six months. 

This must have been a time of darkness and 
trial for the little church. We find it recorded 
on March 2, 181 1, that " the 21st of this month, 
Thursday, was appointed as a day of humilia- 
tion and prayer for this church." Their mem- 
bers were still few — less than eighty. Money 
was scarce. Now and then difficulties arose 
between certain members. But brighter days 
were coming. 

At a meeting held February 1, 18 12, Charles 
Bartolette, of Lower Dublin, Pa., was invited to 
this field for one year, and on the eleventh of 
the following May he was ordained. The build- 
ing was again repaired, and Mr. Bartolette called 
to supply the church for another year. In April, 




CHARLES BARTOLETTE, 1812-46. 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. iy 

1 8 14, he was called as pastor at a salary of $200. 
This is the first record of any certain sum as 
salary. Previously the sum paid had been the 
amount raised by subscription papers. Thus 
began a noteworthy pastorate of thirty-four years 
duration. 

In a few years the church began to increase 
in strength, and in 18 17 a meeting house was 
built at Sandy Ridge for the convenience of the 
members living in that vicinity. In 18 18, four- 
teen persons were dismissed from the home 
church to unite with others in constituting a 
church at that place. 

When the Flemington Church was thirty years 
old, its membership was ninety — still a small band. 
Then followed years of remarkable ingathering, 
occasioned partly, no doubt, by the increase in 
population and the development of the country, 
but still more by the faithful labors of "Father" 
Bartolette. The first large addition was in 1829, 
when fifty-seven were received by baptism. In 
1832, twenty-three were added to the church; 
in 1833, thirty- three were added; in 1835, forty- 
two; in 1836, fifteen; in 1838 occured one of 
the most mighty and impressive seasons of re- 
vival that the church has ever known. For 
years it was spoken of as the "great revival." 
It was prolonged throughout the summer, and 
even in the midst of seed-time and harvest, the 
farmers attended the meetings. Not only did 



1 8 Memorials of a Century. 

the Flemington Church receive a large addition, 
but other churches also shared in the gracious 
results of this spiritual awakening. Rev. C. W. 
Mulford was the able assistant of the pastor, 
perhaps the chief preacher in the great work. 
On the first of July, fifty-four persons received 
the hand of fellowship. Over ninety in all were 
baptized before the year closed. Four members 
are still with us who joined the church in that long 
remembered summer, sixty years ago. Their 
names I give: William B. Smith, Daniel Suy- 
dam, Mrs. Matilda Gray, Mrs. Rebecca Forker. 
No members are now living who joined the 
church at an earlier date, with the exception of 
Charlotte Moore, who joined in 1837, Martha H. 
Britton, who joined in 1835, and Samuel Leigh, 
who joined in 1829. The latter is the patriarch 
of the church, if years are counted. After 
serving the Flemington and the Sandy Ridge 
Churches together for fourteen years, Mr. Bar- 
tolette, in 1832, resigned his charge at the Ridge 
and gave his whole time to Flemington, at a 
salary of two hundred and fifty dollars. 

The second house of worship was built in 
1836. It was then considered one of the best in 
the state. A minute on the records says: ''Re- 
solved, that the house be built forty-five by fifty- 
five feet, with a basement story." It was, there- 
fore, the size of our present chapel. We have 
no means of determining its cost, but we do 







k~ 




i? '"?"'"#? '* 


► 



LEVI G. BECK, 1849-51. 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. icr 

know that a debt was incurred which lingered 
for six or more years. 

September 24th, 1836, eight members were 
dismissed to unite in the formation of the Baptist 
Church at Wertsville. 

A significant entry is found under the date of 
March 23, 1822: ''Whereas Joe, a black man, a 
member amongst us, has eloped from his master 
and been charged with other immoral conduct, 
a committee be appointed to enquire into the 
business and report." The following year black 
Joe was excluded for the sins of drunkness and 
excessive love of liberty. Let us remember, 
however, that this was in the period of the 
Missouri Compromise and before the days of 
William Lloyd Garrison. 

In the first quarter of the century, rum was a 
foe that conquered even some members of the 
church and not seldom we find cases of disci- 
pline arising from this source. But here again 
we must remember that in those days the views 
of society concerning the use of strong drink 
were lax. The Washingtonian movement was 
not yet felt in the land, and such apostles of 
temperance as John B. Gough, had not begun 
their moral crusade against intoxicants. 

The Flemington Baptist Church, like many 
others in our land, experienced decided opposi- 
tion in their efforts to introduce instrumental 
music. The three following minutes throw 



20 Memorials of a Century. 

light upon this subject. January 25th, 1 
i 'There having been something said by some 
against the pastor's patronizing instrumental 
music in the congregation by the choir of sing- 
ers, a motion was made to know whether he 
had in this particular exceeded his pastoral 
rights. It was unanimously resolved that he 
had not." Perhaps the nature of the instrument 
aggravated the antagoism to it, for it was a bass 
viol that had been introduced into the choir 
gallery behind the audience. One good sister, 
one of the constituent members, was in the 
habit of entering the church just before the ser- 
mon and leaving immediately after it that she 
might not listen to the tones of the "ungodly 
fiddle." The player was Bro. William Barrass, 
who for sixty years was a familiar figure among 
us and who only a few years ago entered the 
celestial choir. One morning, however, his 
occupation was gone, for the viol was missing. 
But its absence was only temporary, for we read 
that on June 1st, 1839, a brother was called up 
before the church and "spoke at some length on 
the way in which he got possession of the instru- 
ment in use in the choir," but (it is added) he 
"made no acknowledgement of doing wrong in 
the act." Again on April 4th, 1840, another 
brother was disciplined chiefly for opposing the 
instrument of music, which he declared had be- 
come as an "'idol" to the church. It is evident 






Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 21 

that this opposition came from but a few per- 
sons. Its strangeness to the present generation 
is our warrant for recalling it. Long since the 
church learned that the divine art of music — and 
of music supported by instrument — may become 
the handmaid of religion. 

In 1830, the Sunday-school was organized. Of 
that we shall hear later. 

In 1840, the pastor's salary was raised to four 
hundred dollars. But the church was still in 
debt ; it was impossible to pay the pastor 
promptly, and in 1844 the church was obliged 
to reduce the salary. The pastor kindly and 
willingly agreed to the reduction. His work 
here was now ended, and on January 4th, 1846, 
he resigned his trust after the longest pastorate 
the church has ever enjoyed. He baptized four 
hundred and forty>nine. He found here a feeble 
band. He left an important and prominent 
church. His labors were most acceptable to the 
people and were abundantly blessed. His kindly 
ways greatly endeared him to the community. 
He sleeps by the Sandy Ridge church, which he 
helped to establish. 

On June 16th, 1846, the church extended a 
call to Clarence W. Mulford, of Hightstown, 
New Jersey, at a salary of six hundred dollars. 
On December 22d, he was installed as pastor. 
Mr. Mulford was already well known here, as he 
had assisted the former pastor in revival ser- 



22 Memorials of a Century. 

vices. Zealous, energetic and faithful, he was 
very successful in winning souls. During his 
short pastorate of two and one-half years, he 
baptized seventy-four converts. His excessive 
labors impaired his health and his voice utterly 
failed. Reluctantly he resigned in July, 1849, 
and very regretfully the church suffered him to 
depart, to seek restoration on a farm in Mon- 
mouth county. Again at Holmdel, he assumed 
a pastorate. Very soon again his voice proved 
insufficient. In 1843 he returned to Fleming- 
ton, where he directed his farm and engaged in 
the practice of medicine. For several years he 
dwelt among his friends and was a deacon and 
valuable member of the church until he passed 
to his reward on June 28, 1864. Clarence Mul- 
ford was distinguished for his efforts in behalf 
of missions and temperance. In these fields, 
which were unpopular then, he was one of the 
pioneer workers. His singular power as an 
evangelist is shown by the fact that in an active 
ministry of twenty years, he baptized four hun- 
dred and eighty-two persons, besides assisting 
largely in revivals on other fields. 

On September 6th, 1839, Levi G. Beck was 
invited to the pastorate at a salary of five hun- 
dred dollars. Previous to this time, Rev. E. R. 
Hera had been appointed by the board of the 
New Jersey Baptist State Convention to labor in 
the northern portion of this field. As many 




CLARENCE W. MULFORD, 1846-49. 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 23 

members lived in this district, they resolved to 
form a Baptist Church at Cherryville. Accord- 
ingly, October 13th, 1849, thirty-nine of our 
number were dismissed to constitute a church at 
that place. Mr. Beck's ministry here was of less 
than two year's duration, yet long enough to 
win- him a place in the hearts of the people. 
Ten were baptized. The church was loath to 
accept the pastor's resignation, but he felt that 
duty called him elsewhere. 

In April, 185 1, Mr. Beck relinquished the 
charge. The next month Thomas Swaim re- 
ceived and accepted a call from this church. 
Before coming to Flemington, Mr. Swaim was 
District Secretary of the American Baptist Mis- 
sionary Union. His salary here the first year 
was five hundred dollars, but was soon advanced 
to six hundred dollars, then to seven hundred 
dollars, and finally to one thousand dollars. 

In 1853, by an act of the New Jersey State 
Legislature, the name of the church was changed 
from* that of the Baptist Church in Amwell to 
that of the Baptist Church of Flemington. 

On April 6th, 1861, twelve members were 
dismissed to unite with others in constituting 
the Baptist Church at Croton. 

Mr. Swaim's pastorate of sixteen years covered 
a period of great importance for the church and 
for the nation. He was a man of decision, firm- 
ness and patriotism, a wise leader and counsellor 



2/f. Memorials of a Century. 

during the trying- times of the Civil War. In 
those days when good men, especially in New- 
Jersey, did not agree on national issues, his 
voice and influence were unmistakably given to 
the cause of freedom and union. Harmony in 
his flock and true Christian fellowship, were 
fostered by the pastor. The good name of the 
church was carefully preserved and upright 
living was faithfully encouraged. That age 
was more polemic than the present, and Mr. 
Swaim was noted for his defence of Bible doc- 
trines, especially those known as Calvinistic. 
Repeated seasons of refreshing were enjoyed. 
In 1852, 1854, 1856, i860 and 1864, large num- 
bers were added to the church. In all, two hun- 
dred and sixty-two were baptized. 

During this pastorate, were begun the monthly 
union services of the Presbyterian, Methodist 
and Baptist Churches of the village — an honored 
and appropriate custom that is still observed. 
Originally these services were of a purely mis- 
sionary character and consisted of sketches of 
various denominational mission fields given by 
the different pastors. But in later years the 
conventional form of evening service has been 
followed. On April 1st, 1867, Mr. Swaim bade 
farewell to the church that he had served so 
earnestly and successfully. With deep regret, 
best wishes and fervent prayers, the church 
suffered their loved pastor to depart. 




THOMAS SWAIM, 1851-67. 




E. A. WOODS, 1867-72. 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 25 

For at least six years the church had been 
facing the necessity of providing ampler accom- 
modations for its own members and the increas- 
ing population of the town. It was clear that 
either a larger house must be built or a second 
church be formed. Both courses were fully and 
freely discussed. After much deliberation, it 
was resolved to build a new house but not to 
divide the forces of the church. On the day 
following, the last communion Sabbath observed 
in the old sanctuary, in July, 1867, workmen 
began to take down the old house and to proceed 
with the new enterprise. The former house 
faced the south. The new one was placed on 
Main street, facing the west. In 1868, the pres- 
ent edifice was completed and dedicated. It has 
a seating capacity of about 1,000 and cost about 
$40,000. 

Now we come to the days of pastors who 
are fortunately still living and whose names are 
household words — Woods, Vassar, Chapell, Sage- 
beer. 

On November nth, 1867, E. Arthur Woods, 
of Little Falls, New York, was called to the 
pastorate at a salary of $1,500 which in 1869 
was increased to $2,000. Mr. Woods entered 
upon his duties December 1st, 1867. Before 
the coming of Mr. Woods, the pulpit was regu- 
larly filled by Rev. G. S. Webb, D.D., of New 
Brunswick. Until the new building was ready 



26 . Memorials of a Century. 

for occupancy, services were held in Masonic 
Hall. 

On August 1 6th, 1868, nine members were 
dismissed to assist in constituting a church at 
Ringoes. 

After the completion of the new building, 
there began an era of somewhat wider activities 
and greater social interests. A Ladies' Aid 
Society was formed, which was in existence for 
several years and raised the money to pay for 
the new pipe organ, doing this mostly by means 
of socials, entertainments, lectures, and the like. 
An able organist was secured and the musical 
part of the services was greatly improved. A 
reading room, supplied with papers and periodi- 
cals, was opened in the basement of the church. 
Much attention was given to the Sunday-school 
and that department of church work was im- 
proved and enlarged. In all these efforts, the 
genial, sympathetic pastor and his accomplished 
wife were leaders. 

The earnest, attractive preaching of the pastor 
was blessed in the conversion of many souls. 
He baptized one hundred and thirteen in his stay 
of five years. On August 1st, 1872, Mr. Woods 
tendered his resignation to the deep regret of his 
people. The attachment then formed between 
pastor and people, has not been broken, though 
over a quarter of a century has passed since the 
separation. 




1 872-80. 






Baptist Church, Flcmington, N. J. 2J 

The Sabbath after after Mr. Woods left the 
pulpit, it was occupied by Thomas E. Vassar, of 
Lynn, Massachusetts. Mr. Vassar was called at 
a salary of $2,000, and November 1st, 1872, he 
entered upon his duties as pastor. The follow- 
ing spring, the tact and energy of the new pastor 
were enlisted in an effort to reduce the large debt 
of $22,000 that rested on the house of worship. 
$14,000 were raised. Then came the hard times 
of '73, and a respite of seven years was required 
before the remainder of the indebtedness was 
removed. It was a difficult task then; it would 
be practically impossible now, so greatly has the 
value of the dollar appreciated. 

On June 19, 1873, the church celebrated, with 
suitable exercises, the seventy-fifth anniversary 
of its formation. An historical sermon was 
preached by the pastor, and addresses were made 
by Thomas Swaim, G. S. Webb, H. F. Smith, 
B. C. Morse, Charles E. Young, and A. D. 
Willifer. The sermon was subsequently printed, 
together with the Articles of Faith, and a list of 
officers and members. 

The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society was 
organized in 1875, with Mrs. Vassar as its first 
president. Some years later the society enlarged 
its scope, and is now the Woman's Foreign and 
Home Mission Society. 

In 1874, the Hymn and Tune Book of the 
American Baptist Publication Society was intro- 



28 



Memorials of a Century 



duced into the church. In the same year the 
envelope system of raising money for current 
expenses was adopted. 

The early months of 1874 saw a marked spirit- 
ual awakening in the congregation, and the 
interest was felt throughout the community. 
At the March communion, fifty new members 
received the hand of fellowship. Again in 1876 
a similar powerful revival fell upon the church, 
and again in March, fifty were welcomed into the 
church. Other years of sowing and reaping 
followed, until Mr. Vassar had baptized one 
hundred and sixty-three. 

In the spring of 1874, under the guidance of 
the pastor, a young men's prayer meeting was 
started, which was held an hour before the Sun- 
day evening services. The following year the 
young women joined the meeting, and years 
later a Young People's Association was formed, 
which in later years was re-organized into a 
Society of Christian Endeavor. 

Before leaving Flemington the devoted pastor 
made an effort to wipe out the debt still resting 
on the church. His stirring appeal of May 23, 
1880, was responded to with noble self-sacrifice 
on the part of the people. Over $8,000 were 
subscribed, and the debt was cancelled. 

In October, 1880, Mr. Vassar concluded that 
his work here was done, and on the last Sunday 
of that month he left the post that he had filled 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J . 29 

with universal acceptance. His untiring labors 
in the church and community and State had been 
signally blessed. His wide acquaintance, win- 
ning personality and sincere sympathy won him 
a secure place in every home. The church never 
forgot those rare qualities of mind and heart that 
peculiarly fitted Mr. Vassar for the pastoral 
office, and in 1889, when again in need of a 
leader, they a second time extended him a call, 
which he felt compelled to decline. 

By a happy dispensation of Providence he who 
presided at the seventy-fifth anniversary of the 
church is present to perform a like duty at the 
one hundredth anniversary. 

During the winter of i88o-'8i, the church was 
without a pastor. For several months the pulpit 
was regularly supplied by Mr. L. G. Denchfield, 
then of Crozer Theological Seminary. 

On May 1, 1881, the church welcomed its new 
pastor, Frederick L. Chapell, formerly of Janes- 
ville, Wis., who had been called at a salary of 
$1,800. It was soon evident that the faithful 
and able preaching of the previous ministry 
would be fully maintained. Mr. Chapell was an 
earnest and profound student of the Word of 
God, and his exposition of the Scriptures was 
much appreciated. Renewed attention was given 
to the missionary cause. It might almost be said 
that a new interest was created. In this work 
the pastor was most ably seconded by his excel- 



jo Memorials of a Century. 

lent wife. A young ladies' Mission Band was 
formed, which was afterwards changed into The 
Farther Lights. In 1885 monthly mission ser- 
vices were held on Sunday evenings, when 
special attention was given to some famous mis- 
sionary field, or some heroic worker. The con- 
tributions to missions were greatly increased, 
and an interest aroused that has never died out. 

The year 1887 witnessed the second largest 
ingathering that the church has ever known. 
For two months the pastor conducted meetings 
unaided. The interest increasing, evangelist 
John T. Vine was engaged to assist in the work. 
As a result eighty-four were baptized, almost as 
many as in the " great revival " of 1838. 

About this time a Cadet Corps was formed, 
consisting of a number of young boys. This 
Corps was in existence for several years, and 
accomplished something in behalf of missions. 

On the last Sunday in June, 1889, Mr. Chapell 
left his charge here to enter upon his work as 
director of the Gordon Missionary Training 
School of Boston, a position for which his gifts 
and attainments peculiarly fitted him. One 
hundred and fifty-two persons were baptized by 
Mr. Chapell into the membership of this church, 
and much good seed was sown that is even now 
yielding precious fruit. 

For nine months the pastorate remained 
vacant. During a large part of this time Presi- 




FREDERICK L. CHAPELL, 1881-89. 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N.J. ji 

dent Henry G. Weston, of Crozer Theological 
Seminary, filled the pulpit to the utmost satis- 
faction of all his hearers. 

At length the church secured Joseph E. 
Sagebeer, formerly assistant pastor of the First 
Baptist Church, of Philadelphia. Mr. Sagebeer 
began his labors here, April i, 1890. Just pre- 
vious to this, extensive repairs were made to the 
building. A new roof was put on. The aspect 
of the main audience room was greatly changed 
by inserting a hard wood ceiling and arches, by 
painting the walls and by adding new furniture. 
A grand piano was also purchased. Thus newly 
equipped and led by a young and active preacher, 
the old church entered upon the last stage of the 
century. It is only necessary to give a brief sum- 
mary of these recent years. The communion ser- 
vice was improved by the disuse of the large 
goblets and the adoption of small cups, one for 
each pew. The new Laudes Domini was substi- 
tuted for the Hymn and Tune Book that had seen 
years of service. Five years ago, the church had 
a roll call, at which a large majority of the mem- 
bers responded to their names. Several series of 
meetings were conducted by the pastor in various 
school houses of the township, notably at Sand 
Brook and at Voorhees Corner. Not a few 
joined the church as the outcome of these meet- 
ings, and one hundred and fifty-six were bap- 
tized during the eight years of Mr. Sagebeer's 



j 2 Memorials of a Century. 

labors here. The pastor was in frequent demand 
elsewhere for lectures and addresses. The con- 
gregations at home were gratifyingly large, and 
bore witness to the helpfulness of the earnest, 
thoughtful and eloquent sermons of the preacher. 
In the summer of 1896 we were called upon to 
mourn the loss of Mrs. Sagebeer, who had been 
an invalid for over two years. Her brief life 
among us had revealed her admirable traits of 
character, and served to augment our sorrow. 
In this period two new missionary societies were 
organized — The Little Helpers and The What I 
Can Society. 

At length Mr. Sagebeer heard the call of duty 
to another field in Germantown, Pa., and on 
March 1, 1898, we parted with our eleventh 
pastor. The church awaits a new leader with 
whom to enter upon the new century. 

The strength and success of a Church cannot be 
estimated solely by its size or by its increase in 
membership. Yet it may not be unprofitable to 
note the accessions to this church in each decade of 
its existence. In the first decade, 1798- 1808 
the increase was from 16 to 85; in 1808- 18 18 
the decrease was from 85 to 76; in 1818-1828 
the increase was from 76 to 90; in 1828-38 
the increase was from 90 to 295; in 1838-48 
the increase was from 295 to 336; in 1848-58 
the increase was from 336 to 341; in 1858-68 
the increase was from 341 to 400; in 1868-78 




JOSEPH E. SAGEBEER, 1890-98. 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. jj 

the increase was from 400 to 502; in 1878-88, 
the increase was from 502 to 531; in 1888-98, 
the decrease was from 531 to 497. The great- 
est increase was in the fourth decade, the greatest 
decrease in the last decade. This present de- 
crease is partly owing to the fact that the church 
roll has been thoroughly revised this year. 
Besides the population of the village may not 
be increasing as rapidly as it did in former 
decades. 

Nine brethren have been licensed by this 
church to preach the gospel, viz. : Thomas 
Barrass and William Pollard in 1830; Edward 
Barrass in 183 1 ; William B. Shrope and John L. 
Brooks in 1843 I Moses Heath in 185 1 ; J. Dayton 
Merrill in 1854; R. F. Y. Pierce in 1885 ; Walter 
B. Pimm in 1886. Some of these have entered 
into rest. The last four have been invited to 
participate in the exercises of this anniversary. 

It would be interesting to contrast the past 
with the present, but such is not the purpose of 
your historian. The great advances of the nine- 
teenth century are manifold and remarkable. 
A century ago there were in this land about 
nine hundred Baptist churches, with sixty-five 
thousand members. To-day there are over 
forty- three thousand Baptist churches, with more 
than four million members, a gain of over forty- 
fold in churches, and over fifty-fold in members. 
A comparison in other lines of activity, educa- 



j £ Memorials of a Century. 

tional, political, and social, would be equally 
overwhelming. 

As we close our rapid review of the century, 
some reflections are forced upon us. Our fore- 
fathers were for the most part devout, faithful, 
and simple-minded men. Quiet, agricultural 
pursuits were their chief occupation. 

" Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife, 
They kept the noiseless tenor of their way." 

But if their horizon was somewhat circumscribed, 
they were distinguished for an insight into 
spiritual truth, an adherence to duty, and a love 
of the brethren that we of a later day may well 
covet. They lived happy, died happy. Be not 
surprised. They loved and served their God. 
May it be ours to avoid their mistakes, to emu- 
late their virtues, to be worthy of the inheritance 
into which we have entered. May we have 
larger usefulness commensurate with our greater 
opportunities. 

Now what of the present? It is glorious with 
achievement, and rich with promise. To-day we 
are making the history of the future. It is not 
wise to assume that we have already attained or 
to ignore the dangers in our path. Our gravest 
perils are discontent and indifference. They 
arise from various causes, which we can best 
search out for ourselves. Forewarned should be 
forearmed. 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. jf 

With glad hearts we would celebrate the Cen- 
tennial of our church. Let us realize and 
remember the true function of the church, which 
is greater than the individual, but less than 
Christianity; which is ordained among men that 
it may secure the vital union of the individual 
with his Lord. 



TREASURER'S REPORT, 

Read by 
Treasurer, Howard Sutphin, 

THE report of the Treasurer of this Church 
is not just as we could have wished it to 
be, because of the lack of positive figures 
during the first seventy-five years of its exist- 
ence as an organization, and in order that I may 
secure a reasonably correct starting point, I want 
to use (with his permission) the same words that 
Dr. Vassar used twenty-five years ago, when 
celebrating our seventy-fifth anniversary. 

This is what he said: "On account of the 
meagreness and imperfection of our early records, 
it is difficult, if not impossible, correctly to re- 
port these years. Getting figures in the best 



j 6 Memorials of a Century. 

shape we can however, some such story as this 
they seem to tell: 'From the beginning of our 
various mission organizations, this church ap- 
pears to have been in hearty sympathy with 
them and for many years has been one of the 
foremost according to its ability in contributing 
to their fund. 

'What has gone directly through the treasury 
of the church towards carrying out our Master's 
last commission, it would be impossible to tell. 
We have a very incomplete statement of our 
charitable collections for the last forty years, 
and this shows a total of more than $20,000 
given. Assuming that the previous thirty-five 
years brought offerings half as large and the 
aggregate contributions for benevolence would 
foot up $30,000 ; this estimate however is thought 
by those best informed to be far to small. 

The amount raised for church edifices and the 
support of the gospel, must have been at least 
$120,000 more, or $150,000 for all objects com- 
bined.'" 

This then brings us down to twenty-five years 
ago, since which time we are able to give you 
correct statistics. During the past twenty-five 
years, this church has raised $15,000 for benevo- 
lence : for repairs and improvements, $10,000; 
and for current expenses connected with the 
support of the gospel here, $75,000, making a 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N.J. 3 J 

grand total raised by this church during it one 
hundred years, of $250,000. 

What further should we report? What further 
can we say except, that aided as we firmly be- 
lieve by God's blessings and our Saviour's lead- 
ings, these things have been accomplished by 
the liberal contributions of this people in pro- 
portion as God hath prospered them, to the end 
that we come up to our one-hundredth year with 
our financial obligations all met and not a penny 
of debt upon us. 




THE CHURCH'S OUTGROWTH, 

OUT from the Flemington Church have gone 
colonies to form the following churches : 
Sandy Ridge, Wertsville, Cherryville, 
Croton and Ringoes. Stockton is an off-shoot 
from Sandy Ridge, and so may be accounted a 
grandchild of Flemington. These churches, 
through their pastors or other delegates, pre- 
sented the following reports : 

SANDY RIDGE CHURCH, 

The Sandy Ridge Baptist Church was consti- 
tuted on October 24th, 18 18, with nineteen con- 
stituent members. We suppose they were mostly 
members of the Flemington Baptist -Church ; the 
records does not tell us. We find previous to 
the constitution of the church, that Elder Charles 
Bartolette, who was at that time pastor of the 
Flemington Baptist Church, had been preaching 
regularly in private houses for five years, and that 
on the third Lord's day in January, 18 17, a meet- 
ing house was opened and dedicated to Divine 
services. The speakers on that occasion were 
Elder Bartolette and Rev. Alexander Hastings ; 
ministering brethren present at the constitution 
of the church were Elders Thomas B. Montague, 
David Bateman, Alexander Hastings and Charles 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J . jp 

Bartolette. On October 25th, 18 18, it being the 
Lord's day, two were baptized, and the ordin- 
ance of the Lord's Supper was observed. Again 
on January 17th, 18 19, ten persons were bap- 
tized. On April 10th, 18 19, a call was extended 
to Brother Bartolette, to become the regular 
pastor, dividing his time with the Sandy Ridge 
and Am well (Flemington) Churches ; he con- 
tinued as pastor until 1832. Rev. Joseph White 
then became pastor, continuing until 1842,. 
followed by Rev. E. B. Hall, as supply; Rev. 
George Young, pastor; Rev. J. E. Rue, pastor; 
Rev. J. J, Baker, pastor; Rev. J. Timberman, 
pastor; Joseph Wright, supply; Rev. Samuel 
Sproul, pastor nine years; Rev. Morgan R. Cox, 
supply ; Rev. George R. Young, second pastor- 
ate : Rev. B. R. Black, pastor: Rev. A.W. Peck, 
pastor ; Rev. George Young, third pastorate ; 
Rev. M. B. Lanning, pastor; Rev. A. Cauldwell, 
pastor, in connection with Stockton Baptist 
Church; Rev. G. H. Larison, in connection with 
Ringoes Baptist Church; Rev. C. W. Ray, D.D., 
and C. A. Mott, both in connection with Stock- 
ton Baptist Church, then our present pastor, 
William Gresty Robinson, commenced his labors 
on the first of May, 1897. Since his coming the 
Sandy Ridge Baptist Church has taken on new 
life. We have large congregations both morn- 
ing and evening ; before his coming we had 
only afternoon services. We have a large Sun- 
day-school ; live and active Young People's 



4-0 Memorials of a Century. 

Society ; Junior Society ; an average attendance 
at prayer meeting of forty-five, besides a Ladies' 
Aid and Missionary Society. We find among 
those who have been members of our church 
and who have entered the ministry the names of 
Rev. Charles S. Wilson, Rev. William V. Wil- 
son, Rev. William E. Lock, Rev. Silas Larue, 
Rev. George H. Larison, Rev. A. B. Larison, Rev. 
E. C. Romine. In 1849, the church purchased 
land and built a parsonage; in i860 completed 
and dedicated a house of worship at Stockton, 
and in 1867 built a new house at Sandy Ridge in 
place of the old one. In 1866, a colony of per- 
sons, forty-five in number, received letters from 
Sandy Ridge, to form a Baptist Church at Stock- 
ton, and in 1868, a small number was dismissed 
to form a Baptist church at Ringoes, N. J. 

In this history of nearly eighty years who can 
compute the good accomplished ? None but God 
himself. The old church has had many experi- 
ences ; there have been a great many struggles 
and sacrifices on the part of its members, and a 
great many have entered into the rest that re- 
maineth for the people of God. We have had 
our dark days as well as bright ones, but out of 
all ills the Lord has delivered us. We hope 
that the good that has been done by the old 
Sandy Ridge Church is small compared with 
that which shall be accomplished in the future, 
God helping us. 



Baptist Church, Fleniington, N. J. 4.1 

WERTSYILLE CHURCH, 

The Wertsville Church sends happy greeting- to 
her mother on this pleasant occasion of her one 
hundredth birthday. 

On March 18th, 1834, a meeting was called at 
the school house at Werts' Corner (now Werts- 
ville), of persons favorable to the erection of a 
Baptist meeting house. At an adjourned meet- 
ing, held March 2 2d, articles were drawn and 
subscribed to. One acre of land was given by 
James Servis and Betsy Hoagland as a site for a 
meeting house and burying ground forever. A 
solid stone structure forty by forty-eight feet was 
erected and dedicated with appropriate services. 
October 1st, 1836, a council was called for the 
purpose of constituting a regular Baptist church. 
The ministering brethren present were Revs. 
G. S. Webb, Daniel T. Hill* Morgan J. Rhees, 
and David B. Stout. Rev. G. S. Webb was 
moderator and Rev. Morgan J. Rhees, clerk. 

Letters of dismission were presented from the 
Baptist Church at Flemington by the following 
persons : Nicholas Ott Durham and his wife 
Mary Durham, Mahlon Higgins and his wife 
Ann Higgins, Abraham I. Van Doren, Abraham 
Larison, Mary Carr and Elizabeth Young. The 
letters with the articles of Faith and Covenant, 
having been examined and approved, the church 
was regularly constituted and recognized. 



4-2 Memorials of a Century. 

The next day being Sunday, the council re- 
mained over and served the Lord's Supper, receiv- 
ing two by baptism that day. The following 
Sunday, October 9th, Rev. William Pollard and 
his wife Lydia Pollard, from Pittsgrove, were 
received by letter and he was called to the pastor- 
ate, serving three years when the Lord called 
him home. He baptized twenty-one during that 
time. The church has had thirteen regular 
pastors, with a number of supplies, and three 
hundred and forty-three members during its 
existence, with many converted who united else- 
where. Owing to deaths, removals and etc., the 
present membership is but forty-three, with 
eleven non-residents. 

The church building was re-modeled by pastor 
H. A. Chapman, and re-dedicated January 7th, 
1885. Sermon by Rev. T. E. Vassar, D.D. 

Rev. N. B. Randall, (State Evangelist), held a 
series of meetings with us in December, 1896, 
which resulted in a number of conversions and 
added fourteen to the church. Inspired with 
fresh zeal and new workers we took courage 
again ; our regular and cottage prayer meetings 
and Christian Endeavor have been well kept up. 
Our Ladies' Aid is doing very effective work. 
The church is to be cleaned and new carpet 
laid this week ; have purchased a lamp for out- 
side. Our children's day exercises will be held 
next Sunday evening. 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. £j 

Since February 20th, 1898, our pulpit has 
been very acceptably supplied by Mr. John H. 
Dening, a student from Crozer. He has the 
hearts of the people both in church and com- 
munity, with increasing* congregations both morn- 
ing and evening. We are trying to do what we 
can and have the aid of the Convention, but we 
would greatly appreciate the help and sympathy 
from our mother church, for, though past sixty- 
one years of age, we are at present not able to 
walk alone and accomplish the Master's work 
which surrounds us. 

Your second daughter, Wertsville. 

CHERRYVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH, 

It is nearly forty-nine years since Cherryville 
left the fostering care of her mother, the Flem- 
ington Baptist Church. We have passed through 
infancy, childhood, young manhood, and are now 
in the prime of life. Through all these years we 
have not forgotten the goodly heritage given us 
by our fostering mother. We come here this 
morning to do homage to our mother church, 
whose devoted, God-fearing, Christ-loving people 
have worked faithfully and well to extend the 
kingdom of Jesus which we all love. 

We are placed in a peculiar position this morn- 
ing ; very like the young man who comes home 
to the family gathering, and has to take the next 



4-4- Memorials of a Century. 

train out ; lie has so much to tell that he scarcely 
knows where to begin. His limited time forces 
him to leave much untold. Our time is limited 
this morning, and we will have to leave much 
unsaid which might be of interest to many. 

I. Concerning our Constituent Members 

WHO CAME OUT FROM THIS CHURCH: 

On October 2d, 1849, thirty-nine members re- 
quested their letters from this church for the pur- 
pose of forming the Cherryville Church. Of 
these thirty-nine there are, so far as we know, 
but eight living. Two are still members with 
us, and one, William B. Smith, loved his mother 
so much that he had to come back home again. 
These were noble servants of the living God, 
they laid the foundations of the Cherryville 
Church deep and strong, and the years of pros- 
perity that we have been permitted to enjoy are 
due in part to the fact that its constituent mem- 
bers did their work nobly and well. 

II. The Church. 

(a) Our Present Membership. 

We have at present one hundred and ninety- 
one members. These figures are not nominal, 
they are a reality. We have been carefully re- 
vising our church roll, have dropped all names 
of persons whose whereabout we could not trace 
after diligent search, and have excluded those 
whose conduct did not warrant us continuing 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 45 

them in our fellowship. Our records will show 
that this course has been diligently pursued in 
years past. The result of this course shows itself 
now in a regenerate church membership. 
(&) Our Attendance. 

Our people love the Bible. It is this love for 
the Bible that causes them to come to the house 
of the Lord. They are not moved by the 
"sounding brass and tinkling cymbals" of 
human effort, they are moved by the pure and 
unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ. Their 
pastor does not have to expend his energy in 
coaxing the people to come to church, they are 
always found in their place on the Lord's day. 
I do not suppose there is any place where a pas- 
tor is more loyally supported by his members 
in their attendance upon worship than at 
Cherryville ; we say this with a great deal of 
pride and satisfaction, and with due deference to 
the early training of our mother, the Flemington 
Baptist Church. 
(V) Finances. 

Up to a very recent date the financial burden 
of our church was willingly borne by a few. 
After due deliberation on the subject we came to 
the conclusion that this was not the gospel teach- 
ing of church finance. The weekly envelope 
system by which every member might be able to 
contribute as the Lord has prospered him was 
adopted, and with very gratifying results. We 



4.6 Memorials of a Century. 

try to impress upon the minds of all the truth 
that if they can only give one cent per week it is 
as much their duty to give that cent as it is for a 
person who can afford to give one dollar to give 
the dollar. This teaching has had its effect 
especially upon our young people, many of whom 
do not earn very much money, but who through 
the weekly envelope system are now contributing 
as the Lord has prospered them. All the collec- 
tions that are taken up in our church both morn- 
ing and evening are given to benevolent objects. 
Last year we contributed to the State Convention, 
$67.73; Education Society, $45.96; to Home 
Missions $64. 19 ; to Foreign Missions $63. 1 1 ; to 
Publication Society $39. 19 ; other objects $45.59 ; 
raised for current expenses and improvements 
$1,250; total money raised last year $1,575.77. 

(d) Our Prayer Meetings. 

Those who live in rural districts know some- 
thing of the difficulty of maintaining prayer 
meetings through the entire year. During the 
summer months farmers are exceedingly busy 
working from early morn till late at night ; as a 
result of this, many churches in rural districts are 
compelled to dispense with their prayer meetings 
during the summer months. Not so at Cherry- 
ville. We have our prayer meetings through 
the entire year, well attended, and spiritually 
maintained. 



Baptist Church, Fletnington, N. J. ^j 

(e) Our Sunday School. 

Is not as strong as you would expect it should 
be; this needs explanation. Our efforts in Sun- 
day school work are divided among four schools. 
We have members working in the schools at 
Sunnyside, Pittstown, Oak Grove and the 
home school. This necessarily weakens the 
home school. Nor can it well be remedied on 
account of our scattered membership. We 
have on our roll seventy-five, and an average 
attendance of from forty-five to fifty. 

III. Property. 

In 1850 a good house of worship was built 
at a cost of $2,500. The cemetery grounds 
were enlarged, and repairs made on the church 
edifice in 1868, at an expense of $1,000. A 
parsonage was bought in 1869, which, with re- 
pairs made, cost $2,700. In 1882 the church 
building was enlarged and repaired at a cost of 
$7,619.59. In 1886 the old parsonage was sold 
for $1,500, and a new one was built for $2,300. 
The total value of church property now is 
$10,500. 

This report is not reminiscent ; it largely deals 
with present conditions ; but these present con- 
ditions have not been reached without a struggle. 
"But God forbid that we should glory, save in 
the cross of our Lord Jesus." If we have been 
able to accomplish anything for the Master, it 
has not been by might or power, but by the 



4-8 Memorials of a Ce?ztury. 

Spirit of God who has seen fit to use us as an 
instrument. 

In closing, we wish to extend to our mother 
church our heartiest congratulations on the occa- 
sion of her one hundredth anniversary. Our 
earnest prayer is that your best days still lie 
before you, and that there may go out from 
your church such a holy and charitable influ- 
ence that many may learn to know Jesus Christ 
as a Saviour. 



CROTON CHURCH, 

The C.roton Church was formally recoganized 
in May 1861. 

Before that time a weekly prayer meeting had 
been maintained for some years at the homes of 
Daniel B. Rittenhouse and Hiram Robbins both 
members of the King wood Baptist Church. 

Elder Thomas Barras, pastor of the Kingwood 
Missionary Baptist Church (now Baptisttown 
Church) occasionally visited Croton and preached 
at the home of Brother Rittenhouse very near 
the present Croton Church. 

Rev. William D. Hires, in 1859 moved into 
the vicinity for his health, and in i860 he had 
so far recovered that he was able to accept 
an invitation to preach in the homes of Brothers 
Rittenhouse and Robbins, and occasionally in the 
Presbyterian Church. 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. /f.y 

In April, 1861, Brother Hires baptized thirty- 
seven persons. This gave a great impetus to the 
work, and the Croton Church was organized 
April 2j, 1 86 1. 

Twelve members of the Flemington Church 
brought their letters to the new church, the 
signature of Brother Asa Suydam, Clerk, being 
affixed. 

Twenty-two were dismissed from Kingwood 
Church, seven from Cherryville and two from 
Sandy Ridge. 

W. B. Smith, D. S. Rittenhouse, J. Bearder, 
H. Robbins and H. Warford were appointed a 
committee to purchase the old brick Presbyterian 
Church. This was purchased for $500. 

William D. Hires was pastor for three years. 

Rev. William Archer succeeded him in 1864 
and during his pastorate a new brick church was 
built and paid for and dedicated December 8, 
1 865 . Rev. Charles Cox supplied for six months. 

The Rev. William Humpstone was the next 
pastor from 1867 to 1870. 

Rev. B. C. Morse became pastor in 1871 and 
held his office for nearly four years. A neat and 
commodious parsonage was built during his 
pastorate, on a lot given by Deacon Daniel B. 
Rittenhouse. 

Rev. G. F. Love was pastor for ten years from 
1 875- 1 885, doing splendid spiritual service. 

L. P. Morse was pastor from 1885- 1888 during 



50 Memorials of a Century. 

which the church enjoyed a gracious revival. 
Brother Morse is still in the active ministry near 
Philadelphia, at the age of eighty. 

He was followed by Rev. James L. Hastie, Jr., 
who came from Rutherford, N. J., and was pastor 
for eighteen months. 

Rev. Orlando Jeffery came from New York 
State and was pastor one year. 

Rev. James L. Hastie returned to Croton from 
Philadelphia November 1894 and has been in his 
second term three years and eight months. 

It is worthy of note that Jacob Bearder was 
clerk for twenty years, from 1862- 1882 and Amos 
A. Bearder, his son has been clerk for sixteen 
years. 

The church has sent many into the surrounding 
towns and cities. At present there are forty-six 
non-resident members. Some of these still 
kindly help their church. There are eight mem- 
bers of our church living in Flemington at the 
present time. 

Two of our young men have gone into the 
ministry and are doing noble service. 

Rev. John Humpstone, D.D. of Brooklyn, son 
of William Humpstone was licensed to preach 
August 1868. 

Rev. G. Fred Love now pastor of an Oswego, 
N. Y. church is the son of a former pastor, Rev. 
G. F. Love, now of George's Roads this state. 

A number of gracious revivals have been 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 51 

experienced in the history of the church — notably 
in 1861, 1881, 1883, 1888, 1889, 1895, 1897. 

The present pastor, Rev. James L. Hastie has 
baptized forty-two persons. 

The field in some respects is a hard one — 
members are continually moving 1 away, we find 
the young people are restless and impatient to 
get away from the farms. A new class of people 
are moving on the farms, Danes and Germans 
who are very hard to reach ; a good moral people, 
but non-church going. 

We find encouragement in the interest which 
the young people are taking in the work. 

RINGOES. 

The Ringoes Baptists, like those of Fleming- 
ton, erected a house of worship before they had 
an organized body of believers to occupy it. 
They dedicated a sanctuary on the first day of 
August, 1868, that then patriarch among New 
Jersey Baptists, Dr. G. S. Webb, of New Bruns- 
wick, preaching the sermon from the psalmist's 
words: "I was glad when they said unto me, 
let us go into the house of the Lord." 

A month afterward, twelve brethren and 
sisters formally entered into covenant relations, 
and were recognized by an ecclesiastical council. 
Six of these constituent members came from 
Flemington and six from other adjacent churches. 



52 Memorials of a Century. 

For a time neighboring pastors preached, but 
after a season we secured Rev. J. M. Carpenter, 
and he remained three months. Other supplies 
were secured until the autumn of 1869, when we 
called our first pastor, Dr. Andrew B. Larison. 
He acceptably served us till the autumn of 1872, 
when the Lord called him to his eternal rest. 
During his ministry, more than sixty were added 
by letter and baptism. Crozer Seminary sent us 
supplies for some months after Dr. Larison's 
death. Rev. E. J. Pearce was the next pastor, 
but he remained only a year on the field. Dr. 
Vassar, then at Flemington, and brother Thomas, 
then of Lambertville, aided us in a protracted 
meeting about this time, and more than twenty 
converts united with us as the result. Thomas 
C. Young and J. M. Helsley served us for the 
next half dozen years. The latter was our leader 
for five of the six years. He resigned to accept 
an appointment from our Home Mission Society, 
to the far West, where he is still engaged. 
Nearly fifty joined us during these years. 
Brethren Wilson and Gerald served us for the 
next two years, and then Dr. George H. Larison, 
a brother of our first pastor, took charge of our 
church, along with that at Bushington, Pennsyl- 
vania, till his lamented death in 1892. While 
engaged in a protracted meeting at Sandy Ridge 
(which church he was then caring for along with 
ours), he was stricken down, and a few days later 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. jj 

called home. He welcomed about a score to our 
fellowship. 

In 1883, we settled Rev. G. W. Leonard, 
along with the .church at Wertsville, and later, 
our last pastor, Rev. Alfred Wells. During the 
ministry of the latter, large accessions were 
made to our numbers, there being but a single 
communion season for a year that did not bring 
in some new recruits to our ranks. We are now 
without a pastor, but have preaching each Sunday 
afternoon. From this statement you will see 
that we have had a varied experience in the 
thirty years of our church life. There have been 
nights when the darkness could almost be felt, 
and other junctures where joyously we could 
sing: "There's sunshine in our souls to-day." 
Amid all the viccissitudes however, we hold on 
our way in faith, and are yours in the kingdom 
and patience of our common Lord. 

STOCKTON, 

Thanking you for your kind remembrance of 
us, and appreciating the courtesy that prompted 
you to give us a place on your centennial pro- 
gram, your grandchild sends to its venerable 
progenitor, the sincere wish that there may be a 
joyous season for it and its descendants, as they 
gather around the ancient denominational hearth- 
stone. 



54- Memorials of a Century. 

What changes have taken place on that 
site where your fathers and mothers began 
their religious house-keeping! Gone, the rude 
sanctuary which rung with their prayers and 
praises for two generations! Where the old 
Brunswick stage used to jolt along, run the 
railtrack and the telegraphic wires. Men and 
women who were chattels then, are citizens 
to-day. A feeble nation grown into one of this 
world's mightiest powers! Best of all, what 
marvelous transformations religiously. Half as 
many Baptists in New Jersey now as there then 
were in North America. 

And how many now in the "glory-land" your 
church must have helped thither ! There must 
be many more to represent you in the church 
triumphant, than stand associated with you below. 

Our church, as you know, branched off from 
Sandy Ridge in 1866. We numbered at the 
beginning forty-five. We have seen the time 
since when we ran up to one hundred and seventy. 
For some years past, there has been a decline. 
At present we number scarcely more than eighty, 
and are, in all regards, a weak church. We 
sincerely ask your prayers while you lift the 
voice of praise over the mercies that have fallen 
on your heritage in summer showers. Amid 
your glad thanksgivings over temporal and 
spiritual bounties bestowed, ask the Lord of the 
harvest to roll our way once more the clouds 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 55 

that shall bring the early and the later rains of 
grace divine. 

Perhaps some of our number may get over to 
participate with you in your pleasant festival. 
If we do not, accept these few words as the 
indications of what our hearts desire. 

After the noon adjournment, a most bountiful 
dinner was served in the basement of the church. 
To it a large company sat down, and also to a 
similar repast, served there at the close of the 
afternoon meeting. 



FRIDAY AFTERNOON, 

After devotional services conducted by brethren 
Vassar, Hyatt and B. P. Stout, men now in the 
Baptist ministry elsewhere, but who had earlier 
been identified with the Flemington church, and 
most of them licensed by it, were heard from. 

The first of these was Rev. Moses Heath, of 
Wilmington, Delaware. Mr. Heath said: — 

It may, perhaps, be expected of some of us of 
older years that we should indulge somewhat in 
reminiscence on this occasion. 

My first relates indirectly to the first pastor of 
the church, and in the year 1834. There came 
to my father's, about two miles west of the old 
King wood Church, two gentlemen in a rich old- 



56 Memorials of a Century. 

time chaise, in the spring of that year. The 
older, quite an aged man, asked the privilege of 
looking through the house and over the premises. 
My mother showed him from room to room. He 
seemed greatly interested in everything. He 
went to the barn, to the apple and cherry 
orchards, and then stood and looked over the 
surrounding fields. My boyish curiousity was 
excited. As soon as they had gone I asked my 
mother who those men were and what they 
wanted. She replied, "That older gentleman is 
Garner Hunt. Many years ago he preached for 
the Kingwood Church, and lived in this house. 
He has been away almost thirty years, and wanted 
to see his old home as he has come back on a 
visit." As a boy of seven years, I had pleasant 
thoughts at living where a preacher had lived. 
In maturer years I have thought the preacher 
must have enjoyed his home there, or he would 
not have wished to see the place after a thirty 
years' absence. For five years Garner Hunt had 
preached alternately between this church and 
Kingwood. I have, therefore, seen the first 
pastor of this church — him who was also my 
great grandfather's pastor at Kingwood. 

April i, 1846, I came to Flemington to learn 
the carriage making business from Mr. John 
Forker, for whom I have always possesssed a 
very high esteem. Through the influence of 
Mrs. Forker, and my aunt, Mrs. Jane Fulper, 






Baptist Church, Fleming ton, N. J. 5 J 

I was led to attend the Baptist Church and to be- 
come a member of the Sunday School. My 
teacher was Nathaniel Higgins, who was per- 
mitted to see during his short and faithful life, 
nearly if not quite all his scholars come to Christ. 

Mr. Bartolette had just resigned, and after a 
few months C. W. Mulford became pastor. In 
the autumn of 1847 a growing spiritual interest 
was manifest. The meeting of the New Jersey 
Baptist State Convention occurred and seemed to 
deepen the interest. Two weeks after the con- 
vention, November 28th, the pastor preached a 
sermon by which ten or twelve persons were 
awakened to a sense of their condition, myself 
among the number. 

I hold in my hand to-day, as a sacred memento, 
the very paper that lay on the pulpit that morn- 
ing and containing the outlines of that powerful 
discourse. The text is Ezekiel 16: 5, 6. 

At one division of the sermon under the head, 
' ' The love of Christ to sinners in their pitiable condi- 
tion" his eye swept slowly over the young people 
in the gallery. That imploring look and the 
tender words accompanying it, proved an arrow 
for my heart. Days of struggle followed, but 
the surrender was made by me, as by some others, 
before the extra meeting began. That was a 
meeting of great power and continued several 
weeks. As it was his custom not to baptize until 
near the close of a revival season, it was not until 



58 Memorials of a Century. 

January 9, 1848, that the first converts were 
baptized. Fourteen of us that day were the first 
candidates that ever entered a baptistery in 
Flemington. Baptisms continued from week to 
week, until in March between fifty and sixty of 
us received the hand of fellowship. 

Ten years afterward, when that beloved servant 
of God gave to me this sermon outline, he said 
that he had never dared to preach again from 
that text by which so many were awakened. 

After fifty years, I recall those events with 
emotion. I had received a new life and a new 
purpose in life. A desire to prepare for the 
ministry began to press into my heart, but the 
way was dark ; I had not the means necessary to 
secure an education. Brother Mulford counseled, 
encouraged and sympathized, but failing health 
removed him to another locality. In my anxiety, 
my uncle, Abraham Fulper, kindly loaned me 
seventy dollars, with which I resolved to set out 
for college. 

Four young men of us — Brother J. D. Merrell, 
whom I am happy to meet here to-day, brethren 
Rittenhouse and Lair, from Sandy Ridge, both 
of whom are deceased, were taken by brother 
Merrell's father across the country in a private 
conveyance to Lewisburg University. This was 
the beginning of that movement that has given 
Hunterdon County the large number of collegi- 
ately educated men for which it is noted. 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 59 

At my own request I returned here to my 
home church after graduating, for ordination. 

Thus here I was converted and baptized, here 
I was kindly encouraged and licensed to preach, 
and here before the church and congregation I 
took the vows that have given me a faithful and 
efficient partner in all my varied life work, and 
who hereby sends her loving regards to the 
church and friends of her early youth. Here, 
too, I received from the hands of my ministering 
brethren that which I value more highly than I 
would any other title of earth — the badge of a 
recognized minister of the Gospel of the Lord 
Jesus. 

I hope that in my life I have done enough of 
gratitious work for others to balance with large 
interest, what was kindly done for me. Thus 
daily teaching, occasional help for a sick or 
wearied pastor, and some visiting among our 
missions, keep my life busy and buoyant, and 
brighten the vision that looks towards a higher 
and purer service in the heavenly life. 

Allow me, in conclusion, to say that this is one 
of the especially happy days of my life. Great 
is the pleasure of meeting and rejoicing with 
friends of early days and those of younger years, 
who are bearing aloft the Gospel banner here. 
I have come from my busy life work, to lay a 
tribute of effection at the feet of her who nurtured 
me in my Christian childhood — a church that I 



60 Memorials of a Century. 

have always loved and have always spoken of 
with filial pride. 

I have come to offer here the brief but heart- 
felt prayer that the Great Head of the church 
may continue to bless her in the coming century, 
and even more largely than He has in the past one. 

Mr. Heath was followed by Rev. J. D. Merrell, 
of Herkimer, New York. Mr. Merrell's grand- 
parents were among the constituent members of 
the church, and in the singing of the congrega- 
gation, the family has for three generations, had 
a prominent part. 

Mr. Merrell said: — 

When first invited to take a part with you in 
this Centennial service, I expressed a doubt as 
to my being able to do so, but asked the com- 
mittee to kindly suggest a subject about which I 
might be thinking, in case I should be able to be 
present. This the committee declined to do, 
assuring me of their wish that I should speak of 
whatever I thought appropriate and best. It 
would seem very appropriate to continue on the 
line of reminiscences, so well begun by brother 
Heath, and what he has said has started so many 
trains of thought that it is difficult to refrain 
from following them out. That, however, may 
not be the best. At any rate, it is not what I 
have proposed to myself. Paul declared that 
forgetting the things that are behind, he pressed 
forward to those which were before. In the 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 61 

sense in which Paul meant it, may not we do the 
same? I therefore ask you to listen to a few 
suggestions on the subject: "How the next 
century of the church's history may be made 
even better than the past has been." 

That it will be no easy thing to do, and yet no 
one will claim that the past has been perfect and 
everyone will admit that the second century, 
starting out as it does with a church more than 
five hundred strong, and with this beautiful and 
convenient house for worship and work, has a 
great advantage over the beginning of the first. 
If that advantage is maintained and especially if 
the second is made even better than the first, it 
must be ; I am persuaded by the practical appli- 
cation of the following facts and principles. 

i. A right conception of the real scope and 
grandeur of the church's work. 

2. By the cultivation of a spirit of mutual 
love, confidence and cooperation. 

3. By exercising a practical and missionary 
spirit. 

4. By giving liberally, as God prospers. 
And if these four are earnestly recognized, 

they will assuredly involve a 

5th, viz: A deep sense of dependence on the 
Holy Spirit and much prayer for His presence 
and power. 

Without the stimulus of the first, the church 
will grow weary in well-doing. Without the 



62 Memorials of a Century. 

cementing influence of the second, its strength 
will be largely scattered and wasted. Without 
the third, it will not have the people with which 
to build itself up. Without the fourth, it will 
not have the means necessary for carrying on 
the work. And without the fifth, it will not 
have the spiritual power indispensable to its 
success. Combine these as the Lord would have 
us do, and who can doubt, but that the work and 
growth of the second century will surpass that 
of the first? 

The next speaker was Rev. Walter Pimm, of 
Baylon, N. Y. He was born in Flemington ; 
baptized into the church of his parents in boy- 
hood and by it licensed to preach. Mr. Pimm 
said : — 

I congratulate this church that for a full 
hundred years her light has shined in this com- 
munity. For so long a time she has stood for 
God and the right ; and heaven alone holds the 
record of the good that has. been accomplished 
through her influence. Other churches have 
joined you in the work, and unitedly we seek the 
welfare of man and the glory of God. But 
chiefly to you, as the first to raise the standard of 
Christ, does the community owe its debt of grati- 
tude for its standing in society, for its peaceful 
homes, for its noble men and women. 

But, brethren, let us not deceive ourselves. 






Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 63 

Much has been accomplished, and much remains 
yet to be done. Although the physician may 
not be able to rid the community of all disease, 
so long as one member remains sick his work is 
not accomplished ; he dare not lay down his work. 
No more dare the church relax her endeavors as 
long as one evil remains to corrupt society, 
or one life is yet under its power. The standard 
is Holiness unto the Lord ; we may not stop short 
of this. 

With this aim before us it is our's to know how 
to increase the Moral Value of the church, and 
how to accomplish the moral work in the com- 
munity. One or two suggestions may be perti- 
nent : 

The moral value of a church in a community is 
always in direct proportion to its spiritual 
strength. Paul tells us that the "foundation of 
God standeth sure" in this: "Let every one that 
nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." 
(2 Tim., 2: ly.) The closer a man lives to God 
the farther will he live from sin. Spiritual 
strength and moral purity always go hand in 
hand. A Godly life will be a pure life. And so 
with the church. The closer the church walks 
with God, the purer it is in its worship and ser- 
vice, the more devout in prayer, the firmer in 
doctrine, the more exalted will it be in moral 
character and the stronger its influence for good. 

It is said that during the battle of Gettysburg 



6/f. Memorials of a Century. 

the color bearer of a certain regiment carried 
the standard forward in advance of the position 
of the ranks : nearer to the the enemy, when on 
the gain or the loss of a foot of ground almost 
hung the destiny of a nation. The colonel sent 
to him this message: "Bring the standard back to 
the ranks." The reply was true to the cause of 
Freedom: "Bring your men up to the standard." 
Does the world ever say to the church bring your 
standard back to us ? Let us ever by the grace 
of God dare to place a difference between the life 
of the church and the life of the world, and then 
say ; Bring your life up to the standard set before 
you ! Christ saith ; "I, if I be lifted up, will draw 
all men unto me." There is an attractive power 
in a holy life. Lift up the church ; exalt it in 
grace and purity ; and the world will be attracted 
by an irresistible force. Carry forward the 
banner of the cross and the world will not be far 
behind in all moral living. 

Again I would say that the moral value of a 
church in a community is always in direct pro- 
portion to its own moral courage or activity. 

The world has always been divided into two 
classes ; those who seek the honor of God and the 
welfare of man ; and those who oppose God and 
humanity. The righteous and the wicked. Of 
these two classes the wicked are the more 
aggressive and energetic ; the righteous are more 
apt to endure evils than avenge themselves. 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 65 

There is an element of weakness in God's people 
not found in the children of the world, The first 
manifestation of these characteristics we see when 
the unrighteous Cain arose against his righteous 
brother, Abel, and slew him. Evil stronger, 
more aggressive, and victorious over good. All 
succeeding generations have confirmed this esti- 
mate : the godly are humble and self-diffident, 
and have suffered much from the high-handed 
self-reliance of those who defy the Almighty. 

But history and the teachings of Scripture also 
agree in this : whenever God's people bestir 
themselves in defensive or in aggressive warfare 
against the wicked they are always victorious. 
What Judge of Israel ever failed to deliver the 
oppressed nation when the people offered them- 
selves willingly ? What David ever was repulsed 
before his Goliath when he ran to meet him? 
What Prophet was ever put to shame before the 
priests of Baal, when he dared to flood the altar 
and the sacrifice with water and then pray for 
fire from heaven? The Evil One may raise a 
proud head and show a bold front. The righteous 
may fail to assert his manhood and, standing 
with sluggish hands, suffer and be despised. But, 
resist the devil and he will flee from you. The 
devil may go about as a roaring lion ; the wrath 
of the lamb will put him to confusion . ' ' One shall 
chase a thousand and two put ten thousand to 
flight." 



66 Memorials of a Century. 

Rev. R. F. Y. Pierce, of Scranton, Pennsyl- 
vania, had expected to be present, but being 
detained, sent this letter: 

Scranton, Pa., June 15, 1898. 

I will not be able to participate in the services 
of the dear old church at Flemington this week. 
After receiving your kind invitation, I began 
planning to be with you, but must give up the 
pleasure at this time. Will you kindly express 
to the church my hearty congratulations, that 
with the gathering years, she has retained her 
youth and loyalty to the truth. 

I deeply appreciate the inspiration and encour- 
agement received in the fellowship and services 
of the church, and rejoice that it was my privi- 
lege to be set apart to the Christian ministry 
within her sacred walls, and with the church's 
benediction. 

From the hour of my ordination, God has 
graciously blessed my ministry and crowned my 
life with His sweetest benedictions. 

It may be interesting to know that each week 
for many years past, God has helped me present 
His truth by picture lessons to hundreds of 
thousands, in all parts of the world, through 
which many hundreds at home and abroad, have 
been won to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 

Last week the Penn Avenue Baptist Church of 
Scranton, Pennsylvania, most cordially invited 
me to become their pastor, and it is possible that 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 6j 

I will enter upon this new relation at the same 
time you enter upon your new century of precious 
church history and hallowed service for our Lord 
and Master. God bless the church, its officers 
and members, its past and its future — "I thank 
my God upon every remembrance of you." — 
Phil. 1:3. Faithfully yours, 

Robert F. Y. Pierce. 

Rev. T. E. Vassar, Jr., of Port Murray, New 
Jersey, another Fleming-ton boy, sent this letter : 

I sincerely regret that owing to the sudden 
death of an active member of my church, I shall 
not be able to take the place which you had 
assigned me on your program for Friday. 
Strictly speaking, I can hardly claim company 
with the other preachers who, in the Flemington 
Church, found the new life in Christ Jesus dawn, 
or went out with its sanction to tell the old story 
of redeeming love. I was but a child when my 
father left Flemington, and it was elsewhere 
that I first glimpsed the new and living way, 
and received the official approval of the Lord's 
people to exercise my gifts in the ministry. 
There are some memories of my early home, 
however, that abide, and some experience of 
later years have brought me in closer touch with 
the place and with the church, which so long 
and so effectively has witnessed for the Master 
there. I may be allowed to send it therefore, 



68 Memorials of a Century. 

my hearty congratulations on the completion of 
this protracted and gracious term of service, and 
to breathe the hope and prayer that under the 
leadership of its Divine Head and Master, it may 
push on to grander victories." 

Following these addresses and letters came 
words of congratulation from the two pastors of 
the village, Dr. Rogan of the Presbyterian 
church, and Rev. Mr. Martin of the Methodist. 

ADDRESS OP REV, WESLEY MARTIN, 

When asked by an official of this church to 
make an address, at this, your centennial cele- 
bration, I said to him: "I am neither a cente- 
narian nor a Baptist ; why should you ask me to 
talk about something that occured before I was 
born, or of a church with the history of which I 
am almost entirely ignorant?" However, I am 
glad that I was not here at your organization, 
one hundred years ago, because that would proba- 
bly have debarred me of the pleasure afforded 
me to-day. I should rather witness the gather- 
ing of the fruit from the full grown tree, even 
though that tree is a hundred years old, than to 
have seen the little twig when it was being 
planted. It affords me great pleasure to be 
present on this joyful occasion, and bring to you 
the kindly greetings of your younger sister, the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, of this, our beauti- 
ful town. 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 6<p 

You are certainly to be congratulated on your 
almost phenomenal growth and success as a 
church. 

To have lived one hundred years is to have 
done well. But that you should be more health- 
ful and vigorous at that age than you were in 
childhood and early manhood, humanly speak- 
ing, is marvelous. One hundred years ago, 
doubtless, your numbers were but few and your 
strength very meagre. That you are able to-day, 
on this your one hundredth anniversary, to 
count five hundred communicants, own such a 
spacious and substantial church edifice, and among 
your many members exhibit so much marked 
talent and efficiency, every department of your 
church being so thoroughly systematized and 
equipped, is that of which you may justly be 
proud, and if you please boast. 

It was a great thing for Moses, to be able to say, 
when he had passed his one hundredth year, that 
his "strength had not abated," but he could not 
say that his strength was many fold greater than 
at the beginning of that period, which can truth- 
fully be said of this church. But let me further 
observe, that while you may be able to measure 
these walls or reckon the expense in erecting 
this building, and tabulate by hundreds, your 
communicants ; this is but a very small part of 
the good that has been done through this organi- 
zation. The invisible membership of this, your 



Jo Memorials of a Century. 

beloved church, is doubtless very much larger 
than the visible. You can but remember to-day, 
the hundreds of sainted ones who have gone 
from your connection and communion, to join 
the church triumphant. All these must be 
remembered when you count the good that has 
been done. You may feel that you are poorer, 
while you know that heaven is richer because 
that they are gone. But they must not be 
counted out. Your church to-day is composed 
of two apartments; one is located here on earth, 
the other there in heaven. The house you have 
builded there of those "living stones," "hewed, 
polished and made ready," in this "mountain of 
Lebanon," which have been transported by way 
of the sea of death, to the New Jerusalem, by 
far outshines, even eclipses in grandeur and 
glory, that which you have builded here. But 
the good that has been done by this church can- 
not be fully determined in this life ; it is too far 
reaching. You have not only lived to bless this 
community. The money you have raised and 
sent abroad, even to the ends of the earth, there- 
by purchasing and scattering "leaves from the 
tree of life," will continue while time lasts to 
transport materials — souls — that shall be placed 
in that spiritual temple or "house, not made 
with hands; eternal in the heavens." 

There is an Indian legend which may serve to 
illustrate my meaning. The legend depicts a 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. Jl 

certain king who resolved to build the most 
wonderful palace ever erected on this earth. To 
this end, he employed one Jakoob, a builder, 
and giving him a large sum of money, sent him 
far away among the Himalayas, there to erect 
the wonderful palace. But when Jakoob arrived 
at the place, he found the people suffering from 
a sore famine and many of them dying. So he 
took the king's money and all his own, and pro- 
vided food for the starving multitudes, thereby 
saving many lives. By and by the king went 
to see his palace, but found that nothing had 
been done toward it. Then the king, being 
very angry sent for Jakoob, and learning why 
his commands had not been obeyed, cast him 
into prison, saying that on the morrow he must 
die. But that night the king had a dream. In 
his dream he was taken to heaven and there saw 
a most wonderful palace, more wonderful than 
any he had ever seen on earth. He asked what 
palace it was and was told that it was built by 
Jakoob the builder. In spending the king's 
money for the relief of the suffering ones on 
earth, he had reared this wonderful palace inside 
the gates of heaven. 

Even so the moneys you have spent for benevo- 
lent and evangelistic purposes, and the sacrifices 
you have made in order to save perishing souls, 
have all been transported to heaven and are 
building a much more wonderful and beautiful 



7 '2 Memorials of a Century. 

palace inside those pearly gates than you have 
ever builded here. * 

I invoke God's blessing upon you at the 
beginning of this, your second century, and 
pray that you may be much more prosperous 
and fruitful in the next one hundred years than 
you have been in those that are past and gone. 

ADDRESS OP KEY, DR, ROGAN, 
of the Presbyterian Gharch, 

Christian brethren, you have listened to a 
greeting from the church of John Wesley, and 
now the church of John Witherspoon, of John 
Knox, of John Calvin, of Augustine, of Paul 
Salutes you. 

I am glad to be with you on this your centen- 
ary occasion. Anything good that has attained 
a hundred years of age, deserves a celebration, 
and anything that is not good scarcely ever fills 
out so many years. I like to go out sometimes, 
by day, and hear the story of antiquity the hills 
and the mountains have to tell, or go out by 
night, and with bowed head, stand beneath 
heaven's canopy look up at the stars and listen 
to them as they celebrate their milleniums. 

New Jersey is a great place for celebrations. 
Last June I went down to the southern part of 
the state to be present at the exercises connected 
with the fortieth anniversary of the settlement 
of one of our pastors. On the first day of this 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. J 3 

month, I had the pleasure of participating in 
the one hundred and sixtieth anniversary exer- 
cises of the Presbyterian Church at Reaville, 
and now it is my privilege to be here at your 
centennial feast. The Baptists did not come in 
any numbers into this country as soon as some 
others, but when they did come there was heard 
"a sound as of rushing mighty waters." 

For one reason it is particularly fitting that 
I should be here to-day. Dr. Mott, my honored 
predecessor, in his history of your sister Presby- 
terian Church, states that in April, 1 791 , a paper 
was circulated in Flemington, asking subscrip- 
tions for a fund to be paid toward the support of 
Rev. Dr. Grant, a Presbyterian preacher, if he 
would preach in and about Flemington, one- 
quarter of his time, "stating that the Baptist 
meeting house had been offered for that purpose, 
when not wanted by that congregation." On 
January 9th, 1792, a meeting was held of the 
newly formed congregation, in the Baptist meet- 
ing house, "where more than thirty families (of 
Presbyterians), statedly assembled for worship." 
This shows the Presbyterians accepted the hos- 
pitality of their Baptist brethren. It was very 
kind in your people to lend a place of worship 
to our people. I sincerely hope that they 
showed their appreciation of the kindness, and 
if, by any chance, it has not yet been done, I 
want now, publicly, to thank you for your 



7 '4 Memorials of a Century. 

generosity. If we, as a people, can do anything 
for you, let us know. 

I heartily congratulate you upon your strong 
and efficient church, and upon the history of 
the denomination to which you belong, has 
made. I have no sympathy with the one church 
idea. Let us have as much as possible of the 
unity of the Spirit, but at the same time let it 
be remembered that we are doing the work 
better as different denominations, than if we 
were all one church. 

The Young People's Society of Christian En- 
deavor, emphasizes the two thoughts of denomi- 
national loyalty and inter-denominational fellow- 
ship. While the Baptists have shown their 
inter-denominational fellowship by sticking to 
the endeavor movement, they also have looked 
after the denominational loyalty in their Baptist 
Young People's Union. Thus you have some- 
thing corresponding to the centrifugal and cen- 
tripetal forces of nature. I am very sure that a 
Baptist could never have made such a mistake 
as a young woman of whom I have heard. Her 
lover had proposed and had been accepted, but 
when he came the next night he seemed to 
have something weighing on his mind. After a 
good deal of questioning on the part of his 
fiance he finally confessed: " darling, there was 
something I did not tell you last night." "Why, 
what was it" asked the frightened girl, as her 



Baptist Church, Flcmington, N. J. 75 

heart leaped into her mouth and the color went 
from her cheeks. "Why, to confess the truth, 
I am a somnambulist." "Oh, darling!" replied 
the greatly relieved girl, as the color came back 
to her and the clouds lifted, "that need not 
stand in the way of our union. I am an Episco- 
pal myself, but I am willing to go with you 
on Sunday." 

You have the right to be proud of some of the 
names that grace your communion roll. Among 
others, I remember that John Bunyan, the Bed- 
ford tinker, the only man that ever dreamed him- 
self into immortality, the author of the "Pilgrim's 
Progress," was a Baptist. To your church also 
belonged John Fawcett, the author of that hymn 
which the whole Christian Church loves so dearly. 

"Blest be the tie that binds 
Our hearts in Christian love." 

William Carey, the man who gave the impulse 
to the modern missionary movement, was a 
Baptist. I recall again that Roger Williams, 
the apostle of freedom, was a Baptist; so was 
Samuel F. Smith, the author of 

"My country 'tis of thee," and 
"The morning light is breaking." 

and, not to mention others, Adoniram Judson 
was a Baptist, as was also his great namesake, 
Adoniram Judson Gordon. Did I say these were 
Baptists ? They were Christians. Such men as 



7 6 Memorials of a Century. 

these do not belong to a denomination ; they 
belong to the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ ; 
her beneficent gift to a needy, sorrowing world. 
Though wearing a different denominational 
name from you, I claim the right to-day to 
rejoice with you in all that is rich in your 
denominational history, and I congratulate you 
on all the good you have done as a local church, 
and 1 pray the Master's richest blessing upon 
you for the future. 

"Like a mighty army 

Moves the Church of God ; 
Brothers, we are treading 

Where the saints have trod ; 
We are not divided, 

All one body we: 
One in hope and doctrine, 

One in charity. 

The following communication was presented 
from the Methodist Episcopal Church : 

The official Board of the Flemington Metho- 
dist Church, extend greetings to the board and 
congregation of the Flemington Baptist Church. 

We congratulate you, upon this the comple- 
tion of a century of noble effort, in raising fallen 
humanity and of proclaiming the efficacy of the 
blood of Jesus Christ. 

We congratulate you upon your position in 
the village of Flemington. Striving to work 
for a common end, our churches have united 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 77 

once each month, and in this you were always 
ready to give your hearty support. You have 
always accorded to other churches that freedom 
which, while not comprising individual preroga- 
tive, has shown the mobility and adaptiveness 
of Christian charity. 

So long as there shall be individuals in the 
world, there will be individuality of thought. 
God grant the line of work which you have 
chosen and which through Christ you have pur- 
sued so effectively, may continue, and that a 
cycle of years shall find your church stronger 
even than to-day. 

The blessing of Almighty God attend your 
work through the coming years. 

Yours in Christ, 
The Official Board of the Flemington 
M. E. Church. 
W. H. Bodine, Sec'y. I. D. Cramer, Pres't. 



J 8 Memorials of a Century. 



FRIDAY EVENING, 

AT 7:45 the house was filled to the doors. 
After devotional services conducted by 
brother Finn of Cherryville, the Rev. 
Kerr Boyce Tupper, D. D., LL. D., pastor of the 
First Baptist Church of Philadelphia, delivered 
an address on, "A Common Platform for all 
Christians." We regret that we have only the 
barest outlines of a discourse that for an hour 
held the attention of the immense congregation. 
These outlines we give. 

Among the many things for which Evangelical 
Christianity stands upon a broad platform, may 
be mentioned, first of of all : 

(1) An inspired Bible. To us the word of 
God is above all the books that fill our libraries 
and thrill our hearts. It is the one great book 
which has God as its author, man as its subject, 
salvation as its object and eternity as its destiny. 
This work not only contains, but is the word of 
God. 

(2) A divine Saviour. The centre fact in our 
Christian system is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 
We may differ speculatively, but we cannot differ 
essentially, when we all acknowledge the 
supremacy of Christ as Sovereign and Saviour. 
Thank God that amid all the variations of theo- 
logical thought and all the divergencies of theo- 



Baptist Church, Fleming ton, N. J. ycj 

logical opinions and all the controversies of theo- 
logical schools there is one name we all delight 
to hear and one star from which we all delight 
to make our reckoning. 

(3) CJiristian union. The time will never 
come, perhaps, when there will be an organized 
union of all God's people, and possibly this is not 
desirable, but who can deny that to-day the great 
body of Christ is becoming more closely con- 
nected than ever before in the history of the 
World. The church universal is now more than 
the church local. In sentiment, in spirit we are 
drawn nearer and nearer together as Christ be- 
comes the centre of our thought and life. 

(4) Earnest Christian work. Our conceptions 
of the church have changed during the last fifty 
years. The church is not now so much of an ark 
in which to save the elect as it is a great bee-hive 
of multiform and multiplied energies, an institu- 
tion of Almighty God for the saving of man, in 
body, mind, spirit, character, power and posses- 
sion. And with this conception of the church, 
our Christian work is more definite than ever 
before. Creeds are being matched by conduct, 
sermons by services, and doctrine by doing. 

God hasten the day when more and more the 
world about us shall recognize that the prayer of 
the Master is being answered; "That they all 
may be one as Thou art in me and I am in Thee, 
that they all may be one in Us." 



80 Memorials of a Century. 

The evening meeting closed with the singing 
of the following hymn which had been prepared 
for the occasion. 

{Tune, Old Hundred.) 

We stand on ground our father's trod, 
And lift our grateful hearts to God ; 
In pastures green His flock hath fed ; 
By waters still His hand hath led. 

Fresh manna on the pilgrim way ; 
New Elim springs from day to day ; 
Fair views from later Pisgah height 
Stands out through shadows of the night. 

June greets us with its smiling face ; 
The Summer decks our fields with grace ; 
Let birthday service thus be bright 
While vanished years and scenes we sight. 

With memories glad let hope unite; 
Make festal cheer a holy rite, 
As at Thy feet we humbly cast 
This offering for the mercies past. 




Baptist C/mrch, Flemington, N. J. 81 



SATURDAY AFTERNOON, 

TN view of the fact that the previous day had 
been a very full one, and that Sunday was 
to be still more crowded, but a single session 
was held on Saturday, and it was exclusively a 
missionary service. After devotional services 
conducted by brethren Vassar and Chapell, the 
following report of the Women's Society was 
read by Mrs. H. A. Fluck. 

REPORT 187S-1898, 

The Women's Foreign Missionary Circle of 
Flemington Baptist Church, was organized 
September 3rd, 1875 by the aid of Mrs. H. F. 
Smith, then of New Brunswick, N. J., who came 
by invitation from the pastor, Rev. T. Er Vassar, 
and gave advice and encouragement, and sub- 
mitted plans and the pledge then in use by The 
Foreign Missionary Society in her own church, 
the First Baptist of New Brunswick. The 
following officers were elected ; President, Mrs. 
T. E. Vassar; Vice-President, Mrs. A. Parker; 
Secretary, Miss Julia Higgins ; Treasurer, Miss 
Charlotte Webster. 

The pledge was adopted and copies of it dis- 
tributed among our ladies. Membership was to 



82 Memorials of a Century. 

consist of the payment of one dollar per year. 
Meetings were to be held bi-monthly, one-half 
hour before covenant meetings. After six months 
of volunteer payment, in March, 1876, it was 
thought best to appoint collectors to gather the 
offerings. The result proved the plan to be a 
success. Perhaps it would be of interest to 
mention the names of those first collectors, some 
of whom are still serving and all but one yet 
living. Mrs. Luella Fisher, Lizzie Trimmer, 
Hannah Suydam, Ella Merrell, Ella Carkhuff, 
Rachel Gray, Sallie Barton, Ella Staats, Reby 
McCue. 

My Pledge. — I do promise, voluntarily to 
hand or send my annual offering to the Treasurer 
of the Woman's Missionary Society of Baptist 
Church, Flemington. Also, I will pray for the 
Divine blessing upon this department of Christian 
effort and try to be present at all, or as many of 
its meetings, as circumstances will permit. 

The financial year closes March 1, 1876. 
Treasurer for 1875-76. Charlotte Webster. 

The enthusiasm of a new movement was seen 
in the fact that fifty copies of The Helping Hand 
were taken. The average attendance was twenty- 
five, and for the first eighteen months one hun- 
dred and thirteen dollars and eighty-four cents 
was raised. 

In May, 1877, the first annual meeting was held. 

In June, 1878, having found some who were 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 83 

not interested in Foreign Missions but were in 
Home, the collectors were instructed to ask the 
ladies to designate for which Society they wished 
the money used, this being the beginning of 
Home work. 

In 1880, we lost, by removal, our faithful 
President, Mrs. T. E. Vassar, who, with but one 
exception, had attended every meeting since the 
organization. Mrs. Vassar took up the work with 
reluctance, as it was a great trial to have the 
leadership devolve upon her, but having gone 
into it, she never failed in her duty, and her 
faithfulness was greatly appreciated. During 
this year, it was recommended that a Mission 
Band be started, the idea having been suggested 
by the liberal and continuous contribution of 
Miss Ella Merrell's Sunday-school Class. 

In 1 88 1, Mrs. James G. Ewing was elected 
President, and Mrs. F. L. Chapell, Vice-Presi- 
dent. Mrs. Chapell brought great zeal and ex- 
perience into the work, and it was rewarded by 
increased interest and attendance as well as an in- 
creased contribution. Contributors numbered one 
hundred and ten. The money raised was nearly 
seventy-five dollars. The Club for The Helping 
Hand increased to fifty-six, which was the highest 
number ever reached, and the Mission Band 
which had been suggested was organized in 
September. In the fall, the first Home Mission- 
ary Box was sent out, valued at one hundred and 
thirty dollars. 



8zf Memorials of a Century. 

In February, 1882, Mrs. James G. Ewing re- 
signed and Mrs. John S. Higgins was unani- 
mously elected President. An office which she 
has faithfully filled, and with the exception of the 
time of an extended western visit, has been 
absent from very few of the meetings in all her 
sixteen years of service. In this same month, a 
plan was adopted for the reading of a bi-monthly 
report by the Secretary. Annual Meeting Re- 
ports of the Secretary included the money raised 
for the year. After five years, the Secretary's 
reports refer to Treasurer's reports for amounts 
raised, and so we conclude that after this time 
the Treasurer made annual reports. These have 
not been lost but mislaid. 

In April 1883, it was decided to hold the meet- 
ings monthly. Mrs. Charlotte Moore who had 
been Treasurer since the organization, died on 
May 24, after a long and painful illness, and in 
June, Mrs. Moses K. Everett was elected to fill the 
office. An afternoon prayer meeting which had 
been kept up for a year, was in December merged 
into the W. C. T. U., which had been organized 
and appointed for the same hour. In March, Mr. 
and Mrs. Downie of Nellore, India, spent a Sun- 
day with us and gave interesting addresses on 
their work. Twenty-five dollars and eighty-five 
cents was raised toward an Industrial School they 
were establishing. A club for Tidings was 
started, and the envelope system of giving 
adopted. 



Baptist Churchy Flemington, N. J. 85 

In April, 1884, Setema a native Telugu 
addressed a meeting. Our first Basket meeting 
was held in November. A home mission thank- 
offering was raised. 

In 1885, the first Home Missionary programme 
was carried out. Foreign contributors numbered 
one hundred and twenty-nine ; Home, sixty-six, a 
marked increase. 

The State Convention was held in this church 
in 1886, and the Woman's Foreign Missionary 
Society was addressed by State President, Mrs. 
Butler. At this time Miss Leila Higgins organized 
a Boys' Cadet Band, which continued for five years 
and raised one hundred dollars, with which they 
made J. W. Britton a life member of the Mission- 
ary Union, the only one in this church. At the 
end of this time, their leader having moved 
away, and being unable to find a successor, it 
was disbanded, which seems to have been a great 
mistake. There is no estimating the good they 
might have done. The first appropriation to 
Chicago Training School is noted here. 

1888 — Another contribution to Training 
School, and six dollars to Judson Memorial in 
Burmah. 

In 1889, free copies of The Kingdom were 
distributed ; and one hundred and three copies 
of Kings Messenger, a children's missionary 
paper, was distributed by the Sunday School in 
place of other papers. We have not been able 



86 Memorials of a Century. 

to give amounts raised each year, for unfortu- 
nately we have only totals, but the complaint of 
the Secretary, at this time, seems to be not that 
they have done little, but that constant cries for 
help make gifts and work done seem very inad- 
equate. In 1889 a special day of prayer was 
held, and a special request for money was made, 
for the support of Miss Faye, under training at 
Mrs. Luther's Medical School, at Philadelphia, 
to be fitted to go as a medical missionary, being 
the first one from New Jersey. Ten dollars was 
raised by our Society, and money was never bet- 
ter invested. Our Mission Band of this year was 
the Banner Band of the Association. 

In 1890 the first foreign missionary thank- 
offering boxes were given out. Money was 
raised for Ann Judson Memorial. Devotional 
meetings again commenced. 

In 1 89 1 Mrs. Ehlers addressed a meeting. 

In 1892 we lost two efficient and faithful offi- 
cers, though one still continued in office for a 
time. Miss Ann Stout was elected Vice-Presi- 
dent in place of Mrs. Chapell, and Mrs. Fluck 
was made Assistant Treasurer, Mrs. Everitt 
having moved elsewhere. Mrs. Chapell was a 
great loss to our Society. (I wonder if we ever 
told her so? How much easier it is to put these 
things in memorials.) This year being the one 
hundredth year of missions, the Woman's So- 
cieties were requested to double their usual gift 



Baptist Churchy Flemington, N. J. 8y 

of one hundred thousand dollars as a centen- 
nial offering, which I believe they did. Our 
individual assessment as a Society, including 
the Mission Band, was three hundred and eighty- 
two dollars, which was raised. 

In February, 1893, Mrs. Everitt resigned and 
Mrs. Fluck was appointed Treasurer. On May 
3d we held a Basket Meeting in this Church, and 
on that day one of our most faithful and loved 
members was taken away, Mrs. Rachel Higgins 
Suydam. Since that time we have lost many 
others who were also greatly missed, but we can- 
not mention all. One only we will name, Mrs. 
Sagebeer, (in 1896), our dear pastor's beloved 
wife, always willing and faithful ; we cannot say 
how we missed her. 

In 1894, our Secretary, Miss Julia Higgins, 
the last of the original officers, changed her 
name and residence, and we lost her help in the 
work, which we missed greatly. Mrs. J. B. 
Ramsey was elected to fill her place, which she 
did until this year, when she resigned, and was 
succeeded by Mrs. Elizabeth Robbins, (1898). 
Mrs. Fluck also resigned, and Miss Hannah 
Suydam was elected Treasurer. 

In 1896 the meetings were made Foreign and 
Home alternately. Our Society lost several 
faithful members as referred to above. During 
all these twenty years we had been doing both 
foreign and home work, but with nothing in either 



88 Memorials of a Century. 

name or constitution to suggest home interests, 
and reports of home work were read in the annual 
meetings of the Foreign Society. The question 
had been brought up before, as to advisibility 
of changing name and constitution to a union one, 
but officers not being ready for it, it was dropped. 
In this year our Associational Director brought 
up the question of establishing a separate Home 
Society. The old question was renewed, the two 
plans considered, and a Union Constitution 
adopted, and the name was changed by adding 
the word "Home," making it "The Woman's 
Foreign and Home Missionary Society." "What 
I Cans," and "Little Helpers" started, Mrs. 
Sagebeer leader. 

In 1897 it was our pleasure to hear, in our 
meeting, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, who has since re- 
turned to Burmah. Miss Warlow, of Philadel- 
phia, told us something of the work of the 
Breakfast Association in that city. 

On May 31st, 1898, the Home Missionary 
Society, of the Central Association, came by in- 
vitation, and held their annual meeting in this 
church. The services were unusually interesting 
and instructive. In the morning Mrs. Littell 
read a very delightful and original paper on the 
Present and Future of Missions as affected by 
the national situation of to-day. One impressive 
point she made turned upon the requisite stature 
of recruits for the army. She referred to an inci- 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 89 

dent of a man who was found to be one-eighth of an 
inch too short, but by a process of massage, was 
brought up to the required height. Then wishing 
for — and wondering if there might not be — a 
species of massage which would bring our ladies 
up to the requirements of duty, she had the in- 
spiration to suggest that the Holy Spirit was that 
divine massage, which, if applied, would fit us 
for active service in the Master's cause. Miss 
Burdette, our National Corresponding Secretary, 
spoke in an inspiring manner, in the afternoon 
session, and was so full of her subject that she 
could not talk fast enough to say all she wanted 
to in the short time allotted, so we called an 
evening meeting and she gave another beautiful 
address. She pictured the work going on among 
the Mexicans, Africans and all nationalities in 
this country. It was an unusual treat to have 
Miss Burdette with us. Miss Stout, this year, 
raised eight dollars which she sent to the sufferers 
from the famine in India. Throughout the 
years, the mission fields, both home and abroad, 
have been well covered in our meetings by 
studies and letters, and items read from mission 
papers. One meeting in this last year was 
devoted to Miss Moore and her wonderful work 
among the colored people in the South. The 
chapel car work was lately discussed. Mission- 
ary boxes have been sent every year since 1881. 
The total amount of money raised, including 



yo Memorials of a Century. 

missionary boxes sent and papers taken, up to 
the year 1892, was two thousand, six hundred 
and sixty-five dollars and fifty-seven cents, 
making an average of one hundred and fifty-six 
dollars and eighty cents a year. This includes 
both home and foreign ; because of the absence 
of reports, we cannot give a more definite state- 
ment. For the last five years the money raised 
amounted to one thousand, eight hundred and 
forty-three dollars and fifty-six cents, an average 
of three hundred and sixty-eight dollars and 
seventy-one cents a year. In these five years 
money raised for foreign missions alone, amounted 
to eight hundred and forty-three dollars and sixty- 
two cents ; money for home missons, four hundred 
and seventeen dollars and forty-one cents ; and 
home mission boxes, four hundred and thirty- 
three dollars and seventy-seven cents ; total for 
home, eight hundred and fifty-one dollars and 
eighteen cents ; papers, both foreign and home, 
eighty-five dollars and four cents, making a 
total for nearly twenty-three years of four thous- 
and, five hundred and nine dollars and thirteen 
cents. Of this amount, over three-fifths of it 
have been raised in the last seven or eight years. 
It can be seen by reference to the Secretary's 
reports, that our society has been represented in 
all branches of missionary work by at least a 
small donation. I have mentioned only a few 
of the objects. The work done is not great, 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. pi 

but results cannot be estimated by figures and 
we know that "work done for God it faileth 
not." Our greatest regret is with regard to 
attendance at our meetings. From the first 
average of twenty-five it has dwindled until 
sometimes it has been only seven or eight. The 
club for The Helping Hand, this year numbered 
only twenty-one, but the number of Tidings 
taken was thirty-six; total number of papers 
taken this year was ninety-six, besides a few 
calendars and one or two magazines. Taken all 
together, the result is something to be thankful 
for, but leaves plenty of room for improvement 
to be made by our successors in the years to come. 
Miss Hannah Suydam, 
Mrs. Henry A. Fluck, 

Committee. 

Following this report came that of the "Farther 
Lights," read by Miss Mabel Higgins. 

REPORT OP THE MISSION BAND AND 
'•"FARTHER LIGHTS " SOCIETIES, 

One very rainy Saturday afternoon in Novem- 
ber, 1 88 1, eight girls met in Mr. Chapell's study 
for the pupose of of basting blocks to be sent to 
the Missionary Training Schools. 

A Home and Foreign Missionary Society was 
organ ized which was afterward called the ' ' Mission 
Band." 



g 2 Memorials of a Century. 

Miss Kate Riley was the first President. Each 
member paid an admission fee of ten cents and 
one cent at each meeting they attended. 

For some time the Band met twice a month 
and basted blocks or worked on fancy articles, 
Mrs. Chapell, as Lady Director, leading the de- 
votional exercises. 

The Band had several fairs, festivals, suppers 
and sociables from which considerable money was 
realized. It also sent off each year a box or 
barrel of second-hand clothing, and basted 
garments and blocks. The first one was sent to 
Burmah, the rest to the Missionary Training 
Schools of the South. 

In May, 1885, Miss Riley resigned and Miss 
Helen Robert was elected President. Under her 
administration the constitution was amended by 
changing the amount of dues. Each member 
over fourteen years to pay two cents per week, 
and all under fourteen, one cent per week. No 
admission fee. 

At one time the Band numbered fifty besides 
about twenty-five honorary members. 

Meanwhile the girls had grown older but they 
did not feel like leaving the Band and going into 
the Ladies' Society. 

It was felt, not only here, but in other churches 
as well that a young ladies' society was needed. 
Mrs. N. M. Waterbury, Secretary of the Home 
Department of Foreign Missions, was ready to 



Baptist Church, Flcmiugtou, N. J. pj 

meet this need with "Farther Lights," the motto 
"The light that shines brightest shines farthest 
from home." 

February 24, 1894, the Mission Band met for 
the last time and disbanded. A "Farther Lights" 
Society was organized with nineteen members. 
In four years the society has increased to forty- 
four. The following officers were elected, Mary 
R.Gray, President; Mary Moore, Vice-President ; 
Florence Sproul, Secretary; Ella C. Higgins, 
Treasurer. We meet the first Thursday night 
in each month at the homes of the members, 
going around in alphabetical order. 

Every third meeting we call a quarterly meet- 
ing, each member bringing a quarter, making a 
dollar for every year. 

We also have thank-offering boxes and bring 
them to the annual meeting, have them opened 
and the contents counted, which generally adds 
ten dollars per year to our treasury. 

Mrs. Waterbury prepares programmes for the 
"Farther Lights" societies. The first year was 
"A Trip Around the World" with leaflets con- 
taining questions and answers which we learned, 
and sometimes chose sides while one asked the 
questions and the rest answered as in spelling 
matches; whoever missed must sit down. 

The second year the lessons were all about one 
country, Burmah ; the third, Japan ; the fourth, 
"Heroes of the Dark Continent," and the last 



94. Memorials of a Century. 

year we had different subjects, studying the work 
of the different societies as well as the work of 
the missionaries and their needs. 

The largest amount raised in one year by the 
Mission Band was one hundred and sixty-seven 
dollars, from a lecture given by Burdette ; the 
smallest, eight dollars and sixty-two cents ; 
average in thirteen years, fifty-two dollars and 
thirty cents ; total, six hundred and seventy-nine 
dollars and eighty-six cents. 

Largest amount raised by the "Farther Lights," 
fifty-nine dollars and sixty-two cents ; smallest, 
forty seven dollars and ninety-five cents ; average, 
fifty-two dollars and four cents; total, two hun- 
dred and eight dollars and fourteen cents. Total 
amount by both eight hundred and eighty-eight 
dollars. 

We have not told you all we have done but 
only given you a little idea of the nature of the 
work done by the Mission Band and "Farther 
Lights" of the Flemington Baptist Church. 

We are striving to grow in grace and in 
the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ, as well -as in the knowledge of His 
missionaries and the people to whom they go to 
tell the story of His love. 

Mabel Higgins, Secretary. 

Next came the report of the "What I Can" 
Society. It was presented by Miss Mary R. Gray. 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J . 95 



REPORT OF THE rr WHAT I CAN" SOCIETY, 

When the young ladies' society of "Farther 
Light" was organized, there was no Home Mis- 
sion society as "Farther Lights" society is 
foreign mission. The young people of Eliza- 
beth organized a home mission society, and then 
sent to Miss Mary G. Burdette, Secretary of the 
Home Mission Society, Chicago, asking her to 
name it. 

After considerable thinking on her part and 
■discussion between the society and Miss Bur- 
dette, it was named "What I Can," having for 
its motto "she hath done what she could." 

February 17th, 1894, Mrs. Littell, the chief 
worker in the Elizabeth "What I Can" society 
and Mrs. Van Deventer of the same place, came 
to Flemington and explained the object of the 
society to the young ladies of this church. A 
society of twelve members was organized and 
the necessary officers were elected : Mrs. Sage- 
beer, President; Anna Knower, Vice-President ; 
Bertha Rittenhouse, Treasurer; Anna M. Hig- 
gins, Secretary, none of whom are members at 
the present time ; the two first named having 
been called up higher. 

This was the third society organized. We 
meet the third Saturday in each month. The 
first year we met with the President and studied 



p6 Memorials of a Century. 

the United States history. Since then we have 
taken up different subjects : one year the mis- 
sionaries in Mexico, and last year the Indians of 
Oklahoma Territory. We also have something 
read from the Tidings. 

Mrs. Sagebeer started the plan of each mem- 
ber leading the devotions in turn. This has 
been kept up except that we hold our meetings 
at the homes of the members in alphabetical 
order and the one with whom we meet, leads 
the devotional part of the exercises. Each one 
present usually offers a short prayer. Each 
member promises to give what she can and 
some give ten cents a month and some five. 
Thank-offering boxes are also given to each one 
and last year we had six dollars and seventy-one 
cents in them. The first year our collections 
amounted to nine dollars and forty-seven cents : 
the second, to twelve dollars and twenty-three 
cents ; the third, twelve dollars and five cents ; 
the fourth, thirteen dollars and eleven cents. 

We have basted blocks and garments and sent 
them together with cast-off clothing, to the mis- 
sionary training schools ; the two last to the 
Blanket Indians. 

Although we commenced with twelve mem- 
bers, two have left us by death, two by marriage 
and some others because — well I do not think 
they gave very good reasons — we still have the 
original number twelve. 



Baptist Church, Flemiugton, N. J. cjf 

We feel that we do not live up to our motto 
and that we do not do all we can, but we mean 
to keep trying and we know that we will im- 
prove if we do our part, for the Lord always 
does His and He has promised to help us if we 
ask Him and trust Him. 

M. R. Gray, Secretary. 

The final report of the afternoon was from the 
"Little Helpers." It was read by Miss Olive 
Lovell. 

REPORT OP THE "LITTLE HELPERS," 

The missionary spirit which had aroused the 
women and young ladies of the church, not only 
remained in their societies but reached out to 
the children of the church. The question arose : 
why can we not have a band for them where 
they can do their little part and be trained to 
give intelligently and systematically. 

The girls were very anxious to organize, and 
in March, 1892, ten of us met in the Sunday- 
school room for that purpose. We called our- 
selves "Little Helpers." 

Our object was to create an interest in home 
and foreign mission work, and as the members 
reached the age of fourteen, they were to leave 
and join the older bands. The following officers 
were elected : President, Miss Mary Fisher ; 
Vice-President, Miss Ella Higgins ; Secretary, 
Miss Eva Rice ; Treasurer, Miss Eva Fulper. 



C)8 Memorials of a Century. 

The first year we met the fourth Saturday 
afternoon in each month, in the church parlor. 
Since then we have held our meetings at the 
different homes of the members. The average 
membership during the six years has been four- 
teen. Two have left us by death and several 
have joined the "Farther Lights." The first 
two years we studied the lessons prepared for 
little ones by the Home Missionary • Society. 
Since then we have taken up different topics. 
Each member pays one cent a week for dues. 
Birthday offerings are given and thank-offering 
boxes are brought in at the close of each year. 
Money has been raised in various ways, such as 
by entertainments and the making and selling 
of articles by the girls. 

During the six years of our experience, we 
have sent away two Christmas boxes and two 
barrels of clothing valued at ninety-six dollars. 
The money given to various missionary objects 
has been one hundred and nine dollars and 
eighty-seven cents, making a yearly average of 
eighteen dollars and twenty-two cents. 

Our result is but a cipher compared with what 
others have done. But knowing God can make 
the humblest effort of use to Him, we are trying 
to prove ourselves "Little Helpers" for Christ 
and the church. 

Ella C. Higgins. 

At the conclusion of these reports, the Mission- 



Baptist Church, FUmington, N. J . pp 

ary Sermon was preached by Director Chapell, of 
the Gordon Training- School for Missionaries, 
Boston. 

MISSIONARY SERMON, 

Rev. vii, 1-3. And after these things I saw four angels 
standing on the four corners of the earth holding the four winds 
of the earth that the wind shall not blow on the earth nor on 
the sea, nor on any tree. 

And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having 
the seal of the living God : and he cried with a loud voice to the 
four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea. 

Saying, hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, 
till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 

I DO not assert an ultimate application of this 
text ; but just take the principle involved in 
it as characteristic of the century which we 
have in review to-day. The principle is that 
the universal is delayed for the operation of the 
elective, that judgment is withheld for the 
operation of mercy. The four angels standing 
on the four corners of the earth in control of the 
four winds are representative of universal action ; 
the one angel with the seal of the living God is 
representative of elective action ; the former has 
to do with destructive judgment, the latter with 
elective mercy. The action of the former is 
delayed for the operation of the latter. 

And this is the principle that characterizes the 
century we have in review to-day. An hundred 
years ago the great fact that was appearing in 



ioo Memorials of a Century. 

the world was the marvelous rise and career of 
the man of destifiy, who was aiming for universal 
empire. In Napoleon Bonaparte human ambition 
was having a concrete expression, which, had it 
been successful would doubtless have culminated 
in such a universal empire and religion as would 
have necessitated the judgment of the day of the 
Lord. But the elective action of saving mercy, 
which is the work of the present dispensation, 
was not then finished. Hence the universal had 
to be delayed for the elective ; judgment had to 
be stayed for the operation of mercy. The de- 
structive winds had to be held in check until the 
full number of the servants of God had been 
sealed. Or, in other words, the world's ambition 
for its self-redemption in a universal earthly 
kingdom under Antichrist, had to be delayed 
for the fuller operation of the Gospel in order to 
the bringing in of a universal heavenly kingdom 
under Christ. And this has been the character- 
istic of the century. No universal, human, 
earthly kingdom ; but an increased understanding 
and heralding of an universal, divine, heavenly 
kingdom, and the sealing of those who shall be 
sub-rulers in the same. 

This work of kingdom heralding has involved 
two things closely related to each other. First, 
a better understanding of what the kingdom of 
heaven is ; and second, the wider proclamation 
of it, even to the remotest corners of the earth. 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N.J. 101 

Neither of these things has been fully accom- 
plished yet, but this century has seen very much 
done in this direction. So then let us take a 
cursory review of the century and see what has 
been done in this regard. 

(i) And first, I remark, that there was at the 
outset a widening of view as to what the final 
course of sin in the world might be, and the con- 
sequent nature of the final victory over it, with the 
preparatory work in order to such victory. The 
Reformers had encountered so much of evil in 
the Papacy that they had reckoned it as the only, 
or, at least, the chief manifestation of evil in the 
world. This apostate church was by them con- 
sidered not only "the harlot" but also "the 
beast" of Revelation, and the lines of popes was 
by them reckoned to be the Antichrist. But 
the French Revolution with its blasphemous 
infidelity, and the rise of Napoleon with his 
autocratic power had so tallied with much of 
prophecy regarding the evil of worldly and 
political power, that there was something of a 
return to the early method of interpretation, 
commonly now called the Futurist, (as dis- 
tinguished from the Historical) which conceives 
of Antichrist as a political rather than a religious 
ruler, and the final development of evil as athe- 
istic rather than simply apostate. And while 
we cannot affirm that either of these views has, 
even now, received general credence, yet there 



102 Memorials of a Century. 

has been a widening of view as to the develop- 
ment sin is to have in the world before the Lord 
comes to judge it. Whether Antichrist is a 
system or a person, whether the final develop- 
ment of evil shall be chiefly ecclesiastical or 
political — this one fact does stand out clearer 
than ever before, that sin'is exceeding sinful, and 
that judgment rightly falls upon it in the day of 
the Lord, so that the Kingdom of God must come 
with power in order to gain the victory over the 
the kingdoms of this world. This century was 
ushered in with facts so terrible and so colossal 
that their lesson was certainly taught, whether it 
has been remembered or not. Some, indeed may 
infer that because the four winds do not now 
blow that they never will blow. But this is walk- 
ing by sight rather than by faith in the word of 
God. These winds are held in check only ''till" 
the servants of God are sealed. And its needs 
no prophet's ken, in view of the events of the 
present year, to perceive that these winds are 
still in existence — that the ambition for universal 
empire still lives in the human breast. 

(2) But that which is preeminently character- 
istic of the last century as set forth by the one 
angel, is what is called the missionary enterprise, 
or the carrying of the Gospel proclamation to 
every tribe and tongue of the earth's population 
in every remotest corner thereof. It is well 
known that right in the midst of those un- 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J . ioj 

paralleled scenes of political confusion and start- 
ling human achievement, God was quietly yet 
persistently awakening his chosen ones to the 
duty of carrying out Christ's long neglected 
"great commission." The stories of Carey and 
Martin and Judson and Mills have been so often 
told of late that I need not rehearse them now. 
But the tremendous significance of the missionary 
movement should never be lost sight of. This 
is the finding and sealing of the servants of God. 
It is for this that the four winds are held in check. 
This, I repeat, is a chief characteristic of the last 
century, religiously considered. During its first 
quarter the leading organizations for this purpose 
like the English Baptist Society, The London 
Society, the Church of England Society, the 
American Board, the American Baptist Mission- 
ary Union, the Basle Evangelical, the English 
Weslyan, the American Methodist and the Ameri- 
can Episcopal were strongly founded and are 
living to-day with increased vigor, while a multi- 
tude of other agencies, as we shall see later, have 
sprung up to assist in the sealing work ere the 
four winds shall be let loose. 

It is far too much to claim that this work has 
been done with the promptness and intelligence 
with which it ought. It struggled at first with 
ultra Calvinism and all the way along it has been 
tinged too much with notions of conquest bor- 
rowed from Rome, but nevertheless the preach- 



104- Memorials of a Century. 

ing of the gospel to the whole world has been 
recognized in this century as the duty of the 
church of God. And this is an immense gain 
over ideas previously prevailing. 

(3) And right here we should notice in passing 
what every even worldly mind can see and ap- 
preciate, and what is constantly made prominent 
in any general review of the past century ; namely, 
the locomotive and communicative inventions 
that have made the world of the nineteenth 
century so different from that of the fifty* eight 
centuries that have preceded it. Railroads, steam- 
ships, telegraphs, telephones, printing presses 
and mail service, and many such things, have 
given immense facility to the heralding of the 
gospel. But let us not mistake. These are not 
the coming of the kingdom of God ; they are 
equally servicable for the coming of the kingdom 
of man. But their help in heralding the kingdom 
of God should be gratefully acknowledged ; not 
only the wrath, but the inventions of man are 
made to praise God. 

(4) Another noteworthy feature of the century 
have been the outpourings of the Spirit that 
have seemed to come as a benediction on the 
church for taking hold on missionary work. I 
do not forget the preeminent outpouring of 
divine power in the eighteenth century, com- 
monly known as the ' 'Great Awakening" in the 
days of Edwards and Tennant and Whitfield and 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 105 

the Wesleys ; but that was confined mainly to the 
English speaking world and was pre-eminently 
an awakening of Protestantism from the almost 
deistic slumber in to which it had fallen. But 
the revivals of the nineteenth century have been 
more world-wide, because missions have fur- 
nished the opportunity for them, by preaching 
the word in the dark places of the earth. By the 
year 1830, missions had been planted in many 
parts of the heathen world, particularly in the 
islands of the sea. Then there came, in the de- 
cade of the thirties and following, blessed and 
mighty downpourings of the heavenly rain, as it 
would seem to be God's response to the effort of 
His obedient people. And the significant thing 
about this was that the blessing fell on the home 
field and the mission fields at the same time in 
the same manner. The most wonderful blessing 
that this Flemington Church has ever seen was 
in what is known as ''the great revival" of 1838, 
when ninety-one were received by baptism, some 
few of whom remain to this day. When pastor 
here, I used to love to hear these veteran disciples 
tell of the blessed baptismal scene in the open 
air in the Summer time, when busy farm work 
was left in order to respond to the marked and 
evident call of God. But the full meaning of it 
did not dawn on me till I studied the history of 
missions and learned that in far off Madagascar 
and the Sandwich Islands, and such dark places 



106 Memorials of a Century. 

the same melting converting power was falling 
in strange and most expected manner, the same 
as here in the United States. Surely our God is 
God over all and blessed forever. And as a 
general rule it will be found, in this century at 
least, that just in proportion as the church has 
taken hold on mission work abroad she has been 
blessed by the Spirit's presence at home. The 
dwindling numbers and life of our old-school 
brethren seems to justify Dr. Gordon's aphorism 
that if "a church is not a missionary church it 
will soon be a mission church." 

(5) Still another phase of the general cast of 
this century, religiously, has been a growing 
apprehension of the manner of the final victory 
of Christ's cause in the world. This of course 
has to be learned from prophecy. And this 
century has been strongly characterized by the 
study of prophecy. As before remarked the un- 
usual events with which the century was ushered 
in, awakened wider interest in the subject, and 
among the studious this interest has been con- 
tinued. Many publications have been issued 
and various conventions in the interest of the 
study of prophecy have been held. And while 
there is not as yet entire unanimity of view, a 
large number of the most earnest and spiritual of 
believers are firmly convinced that the Scriptures 
teach that final victory comes not by the method 
of gradual conquest such as the church of Rome 



■ 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 107 

has long adhered to ; but rather by the sharp de- 
cisive intervention of God at the coming of the 
Lord ; and that the business of the present time 
is preparation for that august and swift coming 
event. Now whether this view be right or 
wrong, it certainly has had a great influence in 
stimulating missionary operations. If any one 
doubts this let him turn to hymns number 356 and 
358 of the Coronation Hymnal, used in the vestry 
of this church — the one written by Dr. Gordon 
and the other by Dr. Pierson, two men, who, have 
proved by their work as well as by their word, 
what influence this belief had upon them. And 
what is true of them is true also of a whole host 
of less known ones, who are giving themselves 
to the work of heralding the gospel everywhere 
with a zeal that is the product of this belief. 

(6) And this leads me to notice still another 
phase of the missionary ardor of the present 
century ; namely, the formation of many new 
agencies for the heralding of the gospel. Al- 
though, as I have before noticed, all the leading 
denominations organized their respective Boards 
early in the century and have worked steadily 
through it until the present time ; yet the feeling 
has arisen with many earnest souls that these 
Boards were rather too slow and conservative to 
meet the demands of the hour. Hence there 
have arisen quite a number of new organizations 
mostly inter-denominational and on what is called 



108 Memorials of a Cent 2 try. 

the faith plan. Perhaps the most noteworthy of 
these is the China Inland Mission which has 
certainly proved its right to exist by its memora- 
ble record of over a quarter of a century, having 
put into China as many missionaries as all the 
regular Boards combined. And it would surprise 
one who reads only the regular Board publica- 
tions to find how much is being done by this sort 
of agency. Whether one approves of this method 
or not, it might be a great stimulus to look into 
it. The China Inland Mission, The Missionary 
Alliance, the South African General Mission, 
The Congo Bololo Mission, The Kansas Union, 
American Baptist Industrial Mission and a whole 
host of lesser known organizations are certainly 
doing a mighty work. Indeed, so far has this 
principle gone that single individual missionaries 
are supporting missions of their own, and single 
individual missionaries are going out with no 
Board or organization whatever behind them. 
These methods may be open to criticism, but 
they show at least that some mighty power is at 
work in this century, heralding the gospel through- 
out all the earth. And when you get right down 
to the root of the matter it will often be found 
that the underlying feeling is, that time is short 
— that the four angels will not much longer hold 
the four winds. 

(7) And in this connection I must notice the 
multiplication of home agencies. A quarter of a 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. zop 

century ago if a church, took an annual collection 
for foreign missions, it felt that its duty was done. 
Bui some one said, "are the sisters doing all 
they might?" and then the Woman's Boards 
sprang into existence. First, a Union Society, 
which- still lives and thrives ; and then a Society 
for each denomination. And then some one 
said, "are the young people doing all they 
might?" and there sprang up the Mission Bands 
and similar organizations. And then some one 
said, "'are the children doing all they might?" 
and hence sprang up other agencies ; so that to- 
day you have here not only a missonary church, 
that sets apart a day to the consideration of mis-, 
sions, in its centennial program, but you have 
the reports of four organizations that are work- 
ing in this line. Ah yes ; the work of the sealing 
angel is being pressed in a peculiar manner. 
The four angels cannot let loose the four uni- 
versal winds till the one angel and his helpers 
have done their elective, sealing work. 

(8) Permit me also to notice another though 
very recent phase of this missionary ardor. It is 
only a dozen years old ; it has talked more than 
it has achieved : it is open to much criticism and 
yet it is significant. I refer to the Student vol- 
unteer movement, which was inaugurated at Mt. 
Hermon in 1886, and which has this year held 
its memorial convention in Cleveland, Ohio. Its 
watch-word is the evangelization of the world in 



no Memorials of a Century. 

the present generation. There has been some 
crudeness and bombast about it. But it is never- 
theless very significant. Even if it should bear 
the same relation to the general movement that 
the children's crusade in the Middle Ages did to 
that mighty movement for the recovery of the 
Holy Land, it nevertheless shows that there is 
some wonderful power behind it, that can awaken 
such enthusiasm. But the movement is doing 
real good. It is saving from secularism many 
students in our institutions of learning. It is 
giving valuable information ; it is promoting 
acquaintance ; it is helping on the great work. 
Such conventions as the one held in Cleveland 
cannot fail to have a powerful influence upon the 
educated young people of our land. 

(9) And there is yet another phase of this 
general movement that is perhaps the most signi- 
ficant of all, though I fear, not generally rec- 
ognized as such. And that is special efforts and 
facts regarding preaching this gospel of the 
Kingdom to God's ancient people, Israel. Blind- 
ness in part, and in great part, has happened to 
Israel during these so called Christian centuries. 
Few of them have been converted, partly because 
the gospel that has been presented to them has 
seemed to ignore many of the promises of their 
ultimate prominence on the earth. But a better 
understanding of the gospel has shown that 
there is still a place in God's economy for the 



Baptist Churchy Flcmington, N. J. i n 

fulfillment of these promises. And when they 
have learned that in becoming Christians they 
did not cease to be Israelites ; when they have 
learned that Jesus is to have a real kingdom on 
earth in which their nation is to have a promi- 
nent part, they have listened as never before, 
and many of them are now believing. No one, 
who has not become acquainted with the Joseph 
Rabinowich movement in Russia, and the Hope 
of Israel Mission, in New York, can rightly 
appreciate the very great meaning there is at 
present in this work. Notice that the context 
following our text, marks the sealing of thous- 
ands from each of the tribes of Israel. This 
subject is too great for me to enlarge upon. 
But do not overlook its significance. 

I might continue in this line to show other 
facts indicative of the nature of the present cen- 
tury in the presence of God. The four winds 
will yet blow. Man still longs for universal 
empire, and he will yet attempt it, and seem to 
achieve it, and then God will speak, saying: 
''Why do the nations, tumultous, assemble and 
the people imagine a vain thing ? Yet have I 
set my King on my holy hill of Zion." The 
consummation will come in God's time. But 
that day is not yet and the duty of this day is to 
know God's will and to do it ; and the chief thing 
in the doing of it is the understanding and 
carrying out of the great commission. 



H2 Memorials of a Century. 

Therefore, one of the chief things that this 
century-old Flemington Church has to rejoice in 
to-day, is its missionary character and work. In 
its its infancy it was closely related to Hope- 
well, which has taken so much of the opposite 
character, but by God's grace it has fallen into 
line with His providence. The ^ve or six 
churches that have gone out from it ; the great 
interest it has even taken in State and Home 
missions ; and its ever increasing interest in 
Foreign Missions ; so that it sets apart one day 
of these centennial services as missionary day, 
show that it has an intelligent and abiding part 
in the elective work of the sealing angel — the 
work that must be done before that of the four 
angfels with its first terrible and then blessed 
universality, shall sweep from the four corners 
of the earth, announcing the day of the Lord. 
The missionary character of a church is no un- 
important incident in its life. It rather marks 
its intelligence and consecration as one that is 
approved of God. 

If this church shall have another century of 
existence, it must, if it remain true to God, enter 
yet more largely into the heralding of the 
coming kingdom, But when one notes the rise 
of imperialism as seen in all the greater powers 
to-day : when one sees how Africa and China 
are being appropriated by the great powers of 
Europe, and how even our own United States, 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. iij 

casting off its Monroe Doctrine, is reaching out 
in this war with Spain, for dominion abroad; 
when one clearly understands how Russia and 
England are really menacing each other for the 
dominion of Asia : when one hears the call 
for an Anglo-American alliance, he must see 
that the question of universal human empire is 
fast coming to the front : that it needs but the 
rise of another man of destiny with transcendent 
genius to realize it. But when that comes, the 
judgment must come : the Lord the Judge, must 
come. But until that comes, while the four 
angels restrain its coming, the sealing angel 
must do his blessed work. 

God grant that we may have our full share 
therein, and above all, that we may not be 
deceived into supposing that the coming of the 
kingdom of man is the coming of the kingdom 
God, or that ' 'the coming man" is the man of God. 
Let us see clearly according to the Book, and 
join ourselves with the sealing angel in his 
heavenly elective work, so long as the four 
angels restrain man's eager desire for universal 
dominion. Thankful for what this century has 
wrought, may we record our vow now, that so 
far as we may participate in another century, it 
shall be with increased intelligence and zeal in 
sealing those who shall rule in the coming king- 
dom of heaven. 



n^. Memorials of a Century. 



SUNDAY MORNING, JUNE 19th, 

THE Sabbath dawned bright, breezy and 
beautiful. At 10:30 there were a few 
vacant seats in the sanctuary. The devo- 
tional services were led by brethren Chapell, 
Merrell and Heath. After the offering of the 
morning had been received, a letter from Dr. E. 
A. Woods, of San Francisco, one of the earlier 
pastors, was read. The letter had been received 
only the night before. 

320 Eddy St., San Francisco, Cal. 
June 1 ith, 1898. 
Dear Bro. Sutphin, and brethren and sisters of 
the Flemington Baptist Church: — It would give me 
great pleasure to be with you on this, your one 
hundredth anniversary. As this is impossible, I 
send you this, my word of greeting and con- 
gratulation. I rejoice with you in the work you 
have accomplished during these years, and I am 
glad to have been one of the pastors who have 
labored with you. I came to you at the com- 
mencement of my ministry. Your old house of 
worship had just been torn down and the found- 
ation of the -present building had been laid. 
Together we watched the rising walls, saw the 
building completed and dedicated to the worship 
of Almighty God. Some of you remember the 



Baptist Cluircli, Flemington, N. J. iij 

masterly sermon delivered at the dedication by 
Dr. Richard Fuller, from the words: "Behold 
the Lamb of God." The preacher himself and 
many of the members of the church who partici- 
pated in that service, are now beholding the 
Lamb of God — standing in His immediate pres- 
ence. Perhaps their thoughts are with you to- 
day as you celebrate this anniversary. 

Nearly thirty years have passed since that 
dedication service. They have been years of 
toil and prayer, but of success and rejoicing, 
and now on this glad occasion, we who once 
labored with you, but are now in other fields of 
labor, join with you and with those who have 
gone from you to their final home, in thanks- 
giving and praise. We are still one. 

"One family we dwell in Him, 

One church above, beneath, 
Though now divided by the stream, 

The narrow stream of death." 

May sweet memories of the past blend with 
bright hopes of the future, in this, your anni- 
versary. May your future be as your past, only 
much more abundant in all good things. 

A few years more and we who labor here will 
clasp hands with those who have gone before, 
and although tears fill our eyes now, on that 
other shore tears are never shed. 

Mrs. Woods joins me in hearty congratulations 



n6 Memorials of a Century. 

and in prayers, that God's blessings may abund- 
antly rest upon you all. 

Yours in the Master's service, 

E. A. Woods. 

Following this letter came the centennial ser- 
mon by Dr. T. E. Vassar, who was pastor from 
1872 to 1880. 

WHAT OUR CENTENNIAL MEANS, 

Joshua, 4th, 6th: What mean ye by these stones? 

Men take to building monuments about as 
readily as birds take to building nests, and much 
of their work is wrought out of about as perish- 
able stuff, and lasts about as long. Just as soon 
as a circumstance or spot is considered famous, 
the attempt is made to keep it famous by erecting 
some memorial of the event, and so it has come 
to pass that the world is dotted with decaying 
shafts or columns, reared to perpetuate the names 
or events of history. You can trace such an in- 
clination as far back as earth's records run. 

Israel had no sooner gotten out of the wilder- 
ness and over Jordan, than they went to work to 
commemorate by something visible and tangible 
the consummation reached. From the bed of 
the river where the feet of the priests had rested 
while the pilgrim host was passing over, chosen 
men lifted and bore out twelve stones, and as the 



Baptist Church, Flemingtou, N. J. ny 

people pitched their tents for the first night on 
the far side, their leader piled the blocks thus 
quarried, into a memorial pillar. 

Obviously enough, this monument would need 
no explanation while that immediate generation 
lived, but Joshua anticipates a day when 
strangers, or remote descendants of these wand- 
erers, shall question what the rocky heap was 
designed to signify. He imagines a point in 
the future reached when spectators shall doubt- 
fully ask : "What mean ye by these stones? " 

This Flemington Baptist Church is devoting 
these three days to the erection of some such re- 
membrance pillar. Pausing amid the drive of 
daily care, its friends and members give them- 
selves to a prolonged memorial service. Old 
adherents or attendants come back again, and 
amid surroundings somewhat changed, recall 
the past and indulge in heartfelt gratulations. 
All through these meetings with their glints 
and glimpses of a century's benefactions and 
benedictions, we have been fashioning on this 
historic spot a monument to the grace and good- 
ness of our covenant-keeping God. Brought 
under His care through floods of experience, not 
altogether unlike the tides of the ancient Jordan, 
we rear on this camp ground where our fathers 
tented, a memorial in their honor and to the 
glory of God. 

A pertinent inquiry for this particular occa- 
sion is: 



ii 8 Memorials of a Century. 

What does the Memorial mean? 

Of course, broadly and generally stated, it 
means that we are desirous of fixing more deeply 
and permanently on the record page of the 
present, certain fading remembrances of the past ; 
that we would preserve as far as possible, inci- 
dents connected with the origin and progress of 
this church which are beginning to twinkle 
dimly through the hazy atmosphere of time. 
These anniversary exercises are the acknowl- 
edgement of a debt due to the fathers from their 
children, and the expression of a conviction that 
their toils and tribulations so contributed toward 
present conditions, that they ought not to pass 
unnoted, or be ignored. 

But what are the more special suggestions of 
this century of religious undertaking and accomp- 
lishment, and what do we propose in these 
observances definitely and distinctly to afhrm ? 

FIRST : That the principles and practices for which 
a stand zvas here made a hundred years ago, are 
important enough to be maintained and defended still. 

In no arrogant or bitter spirit towards other 
members of the household of faith, but in simple 
fidelity to New Testament teaching as they 
understood it, the founders of this church pro- 
claimed their creed. Time will not allow me 
fully to state it, or maintain and defend it. 
Substantially it could be put into the two words, 
faith and obedience. They separated them- 



■Baptist Church, Flemington, N.J. up 

selves from other avowed disciples of the Lord 
hereabout, chiefly on these two grounds, that 
regeneration by the Spirit of God, and that only, 
could fit any being for a place in the kingdom of 
Christ on earth, or in heaven, and when this new 
life had been consciously experienced, then there 
must be a confession of it in the identical act 
observed and commanded by the Master. Sal- 
vation first then ordinances, and the ordinances 
in no case to be tampered with, altered or trans- 
posed. Here were about the only wide differ- 
ences parting our fathers of a hundred years ago 
from their Christian neighbors. Here they did 
differ, and the difference was in their judgment, 
so vital that it demanded a new religious organi- 
zation. Now were they right or wrong in this 
conclusion? Was the divergence broad enough 
and radical enough to justify and compel the 
establishment of a rival congregation of wor- 
shippers in a thinly settled town? The action 
taken on this spot one hundred years ago this 
day, declared that the distinctive truths then 
proclaimed, were so fundamental that they must 
be avowed even though it involved the creation 
of a new religious body here. Frankness con- 
strains us to say at the end of a hundred years, 
that we believe these distinctive denominational 
truths important enough to justify the floating 
of the banner which the fathers lifted. Never 
let it be forgotten that it is not a mode of baptism 
that we contend for : it is the thing itself. 



120 Memorials of a Century. 

Never let it be forgotten that there is one great 
basal principle evermore underlying Baptist faith, 
and that is the bed-rock of holy scripture. We 
do not say as some others do that the word of 
God is "the paramount authority;" we are not 
quite satisfied with the phrase "all-sufficient;" 
the word of God is the sovereign, and the sover- 
eign has no parliament, and no prime ministers. 
Of not the slightest consequence is it to us what 
canons, or councils, or cardinals urge or order. 
Their opinions or decrees have not a feather's 
weight. What says the Captain in his marching 
orders ? We do not quibble over a little more or 
a little less of water. That is as false as foolish 
a charge. A goblet or a gulf suits us equally. 
All we ask about it is, has the Master said any- 
thing concerning it, and if so what ? The fifteen 
men and women who on that June day of 1798 
entered into fellowship here did not deny that a 
gospel church was composed of believers and 
their infant children because they were less 
sympathetic toward the little ones than believers 
of other names, but simply because faith in the 
Lord Jesus is a personal act, and must be per- 
sonally exercised, and personally confessed be- 
fore any place can be given in the Lord's visible 
church. They stood not in self-will, not in 
prejudice against disciples of other views and 
names, but in fidelity to teachings bearing the 
Spirit's imprint and the Lord's endorsement, and 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 121 

the hundred years during which they have been 
voiced in this commuity have not in the least 
degree lessened their importance or impaired 
their authority. 

If we would learn whether these principles and 
practices are worth preserving we have only to 
turn our eyes toward lands unvisited or unin- 
fluenced by them. Look at some European 
countries, or almost any nation of South America, 
and behold what there masquerades under the 
Christian name ! Step over into that kingdom 
with which just now our republic is at war. Go 
into almost any of its chief cities on the Sabbath 
and you will find the whole population gathered 
to witness a bullfight. Distinguished men, beauti- 
ful women thronging the arena to witness on 
God's day the cruel bloody exhibition ! Every 
one in that God-forgetting throng is a member 
of the nominal church. In infancy the priest put 
a few drops of water on his head, and so inducted 
him into it, and now if you were to question his 
being a Christian he would pile up all terrible 
oaths in proof of his relationship and loyalty. 

In the land where Martin Luther made his 
brave fight for a reformed faith, and in Sweden 
where that faith is upheld by law, every child 
becomes a member when but a few weeks 
old. After reaching adult age an immense 
majority rarely enter the church, thousands are 
open skeptics, or scoffers at everything divine, 



122 Memorials of a Century. 

and tens of thousands hourly and horribly pro- 
fane the Saviour's name, but every one of them 
is avowedly a member of his church. In Lutheran 
countries Baptists are now attempting to reform 
the religion of the great German reformer by 
showing the people that no one can be made a 
child of God and a citizen of Christ's kingdom by 
the ties of flesh and blood, or by priestly cere- 
monies, but only by a spiritual birth. Great 
changes for the better are beginning to appear 
in the state churches of Germany and Sweden 
since we engaged in mission labors there, and 
greater changes it is believed are near. Of 
course in sections where Baptist views have long 
been prevalent a different state of things exists, 
but just as long as men are taught that any out- 
ward rite administered to either an adult or an 
unconscious infant, can do anything toward 
making it a citizen of the Lord's kingdom either 
here or hereafter, so long we are called to voice 
those fundamental truths, that nothing but a 
personal faith in the Saviour brings one into 
fellowship with him or his church, and that faith 
must be witnessed personally and never by proxy. 

This is one of the things that we mean to say 
again as we keep this glad anniversary. 

But there is a second conviction which we 
desire to voice through the memorial services of 
these days. 

It is that the growtJi of our denominational prin- 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. i2j 

ciples and practices during the last hundred years 
lias been such as to justify expectations of larger 
gains. 

Those of you who remember the seventy-fifth 
birthday of this church, and its celebration, or 
who have read the sermon that was preached that 
day, may recall some of the figures that then 
were given. For the information and encourage- 
ment of those who were not here then, and who 
may be unacquainted with the facts, let me 
present a few statistics. I promise you that they 
shall be but few, and I would omit them if I could 
do it and yet bring out some truths that ought to 
be mentioned and emphasized. When this 
Flemington church came into existence we had 
in New Jersey twenty-six others of a similar 
faith, and they reported about two thousand 
members. We have to-day in round numbers 
three hundred churches with fifty thousand 
members. 

In 1798, we had in the entire country prob- 
ably (no exact figures for that year obtainable), 
nine hundred churches, twelve hundred minis- 
ters, and from seventy-five to eighty thousand 
members. Omitting fractions, we have now 
forty-three thousand, four hundred churches, 
twenty-seven thousand, three hundred ministers, 
and four million, fifty-six thousand members. 
The increase in New Jersey during the past 
twenty-five years, has been equal to that of the 



124. Memorials of a Century. 

previous seventy-five, and taking the country at 
large, it has been very much greater. Of course 
we had not in America, a missionary society of 
any kind or name a century ago, not a theologi- 
cal seminary, hardly an academy, and but a 
single college. Our mission stations now dot 
the entire globe, and the churches on heathen 
soil number nearly a thousand, with one hun- 
dred thousand communicants, and over one 
thousand preachers. We have seventy-seven 
institutions of learning under Baptist control, 
and connected with them more than ten thous- 
and scholars and teachers. The contributions 
of American Baptists for 1897, aggregated more 
than twelve millions of dollars. 

Without burdening you further with figures, 
you can get some idea of the phenomenal ad- 
vances made by the denomination, and judging 
of the future by the past, it seems well nigh 
certain that there await us as a division in the 
Lord's great army, corresponding measures of 
prosperity. The three houses of worship which 
this church, during the century, has erected and 
occupied, will fairly typify the several stages of 
its own development, and the progress of the 
denomination to which it has stood attached. 
The humble, barn-like structure which the Bap- 
tist brotherhood of this region united in building 
on this site thirty years before the church was 
constituted, and which was used by Revolution- 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 125 

ary soldiers as a barrack for many months, 
pretty accurately represented what was then our 
strength here and everywhere. It would prob- 
ably at its best estate, have accommodated after 
a fashion, two hundred hearers, and it may have 
cost a thousand dollars. We did not outgrow 
these unpretentious quarters for seventy years. 
The sanctuary which replaced the original edifice 
in 1836, looked rather more like a church, for 
it boasted a spire and bell, and probably was 
about as large and good as the average country 
meeting house to-day. It held four hundred or 
more, and possibly cost ten thousand dollars. 
It witnessed of increased numbers and larger 
means in this particular congregation, and in 
the brotherhood at large. Thereafter, the 
interest moved onward by swifter and longer 
strides, for in thirty years the second house was 
too strait for the flock seeking spiritual shelter 
here, and this broader roof under which a thousand 
attendants might be gathered, was planned and 
built. This commodious and comfortable struct- 
ure symbolizes changed conditions, locally and 
universally. Numerically, financially, spiritu- 
ally there has been a pushing up to higher 
levels, and what has been, is the prophecy and 
pledge of what shall be further on. Given any- 
thing like the consecration and the loyalty which 
have characterized this people hitherto, and 
there must be, will be, a steady forging ahead, 



126 Memorials of a Century. 

not only of this particular body, but of the 
general host with which it is identified. 

There is a third suggestion that forces itself 
upon the remembrances and thanksgivings of 
this centennial celebration, and it is this: 

That there remain immense resources stored azvay 
in gospel provisions and promises on which God's 
toilers may hereafter draw. 

In the Contemporary Review, for May, there is 
an article by a bright writer of our day, entitled : 
"The Decline of Evangelicalism," which is 
likely to occasion not a little comment. It 
boldly asserts that the type of religion repre- 
sented by the Wesley's, Whitefield, Spurgeon, 
Moody, and General Booth, is rapidly crumbling 
to pieces, and will in the near future, be abso- 
lutely lost to sight, excepting as a misty record 
of history. The writer accuses our evangelical 
faith with having failed to interpret God's mes- 
sage ; with neglecting its opportunity ; with 
neglecting the masses, and hence confidently 
pronounces it doomed. Probably this nine- 
teenth century prophet believes exactly what 
he predicts. Possibly, the wish is father to 
the thought, and he paints this picture because 
he wants to have it so. I can but remember, 
however, how many similar forecasts of Christi- 
anity's future have been made and proven false. 
The trouble with all these latter day seers, has 
been that they have utterly failed to take 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N.J. 127 

account of the hidden resources of the kingdom 
which the Lord, from time to time, reveals and 
puts at work. Undoubtedly, the very symptoms 
of decline and decay which the article alluded 
to points out exist, but all the while the Most 
High is pushing to the front new agencies of 
power previously unknown, or of force un- 
guaged and unrealized. All church history is 
but an illustration of possibilities that lie quiet 
until God's time comes for them to be put in 
operation, and then they burst forth suddenly as 
mighty winds from the calm air of the summer 
noon. The Holy Spirit has not exhausted him- 
self in the revelations that He has made to the 
hosts of faith. Just as immense supplies of 
heat lie imbedded in the dark hidden mines of 
coal, to blaze and burn when wanted, just so the 
hovering Spirit has His reserves of grace and 
might, ready to flame out in new Pentecosts. 
This is a fact of which even the disciples of the 
Master make too little account. They reckon up 
surface influences. They note with dismay, or 
at least with apprehension, unpromising signs 
that from time to time appear, forgetting how 
God has been wont to upset all human calcula- 
tions by some unexpected manifestation of Him- 
self that has smashed men's slates in atoms. 
The divine Spirit, unlimited, unexhausted, re- 
viving, replenishing, recruiting, with His vast 
residuum of unused and even unknown grace, 



128 Memorials of a Century. 

must not be left out of the account when we 
estimate the influences that God has to bring 
into action. 

And then in addition to these resources of the 
Spirit of God there are tremendous possibilities 
that are wrapped up in the unfolding providen- 
tial purposes of the Most High. Unless the his- 
tory of our race be only an aimless, disconnected 
mob of events, then the very occurrences of these 
days now passing over us may stand related to 
the coming of the Savior's kingdom in ways that 
none of us dream. In this very war which almost 
none of us wanted, I somehow hear God's foot- 
steps, and I turn my ear heavenward to catch 
the words I am persuaded He will speak. Events 
are all the while coming from their remote prov- 
idential retreats like comets from their far jour- 
neys, and God has again and again made them 
make-weights at some critical pass in some de- 
cisive hour. Brief as has been the struggle 
precipitated by this Cuban complication there 
have been in it occurrences as strange, I had 
almost said as startling, as those recorded in the 
long march through the wilderness toward Ca- 
naan. Who can tell what may yet come out of 
this conflict affecting the destinies of the world 
or church? Well, so I say that there may be, 
and I firmly believe will be, immense deposits 
of strength for the church to draw upon in days 
ahead. That God who in the past has been wont 






Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 129 

to take some glory for himself and some good 
for men out of the most untoward and apparently- 
unfortunate events of the time, will have banked 
away for his toiling sons and daughters funds of 
help for them to call in requisition fast as emer- 
gencies arise. Men will drop out from church 
activities whose loss will be severely felt. Ca- 
lamities will lower, damping courage and dark- 
ening hope. Seasons of backsliding will fall on 
Zion testing faith. But in the midst of all some 
reinforcements will come trooping in, surprising 
and strengthening tired and troubled toilers, and 
inspiring them for fresh exertion. If earlier 
supporters of this church could come back this 
morning they might witness of hard places met 
in maintaining its interests, but they could also 
testify how again and again the captivity of Zion 
was turned, how harps were taken down from 
the willows, and how every string in gladness 
awoke and spoke. Not otherwise will it be here 
and elsewhere in coming days. Valleys of Baca 
may have to be crossed, but amid their rocks and 
sands God will open springs. New enterprises 
will require new outlays of energy but God will 
reveal new sources of supply adequate to all de- 
mands. In this regard we may confidently count 
on the future to repeat the past. Aye, more 
than repeat it ; to transcend, or surpass it. Past 
generations have not exhausted lodes of grace 
any more than the lodes of gold seamed away 



I jo Memorials of a Century. 

amid the everlasting hills. This is the trust 
that we voice with these centennial exercises. 

There is a fourth remembrance which this 
occasion starts and to which it naturally gives 
utterance, and it is this : 

That such a hill-top of observation as that on which 
we stand furnishes a fitting point from which to 
make a new departure in Christian living and doing. 
Near the entrance of the Yosemite Valley there 
is a peak called "Inspiration Point." The tour- 
ist reaches it by a long, hard ride over a dusty 
road. Once on that summit, however, he loses 
all sense of being tired. On every side of him 
lies some of the grandest of the Almighty Mak- 
er's handiwork, and awed and thrilled by the 
outlook he addresses himself eagerly to the re- 
maining stages in the journey. We stand at 
such an inspiration point to-day. Reminiscen- 
ces of a century lift themselves around us like 
objects grand and beautiful from some mount of 
vision. But this birthday provides something 
more than a view-point whence to take observa- 
tions ; it establishes a base of operations whence 
to move on territory beyond ; it is not simply a 
lookout station over what has been done ; it is a 
set-out junction for opportunities that wait. For 
nothing could be more incorrect than the impres- 
sion that this century of attempt and achievement 
finished up any of the high purposes for which 
the Master gave a commission to this church. 



I! 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. iji 

With this anniversary it merely attains a new 
vantage ground from which to address itself 
to larger tasks and heavier responsibilities. 
Churches as well as other bodies find themselves 
confronted by changing conditions, and while 
the general means employed must remain ever- 
more the same, altered surroundings and situa- 
tions may necessitate altered adaptations. What 
is called the "institutional church" may never 
be demanded in communities like this, and serv- 
ices patterned after combination troupes and 
variety theatres may not insist on being tried as 
baits to lure and trap rural neglecters of God's 
house, but even in this conservative region and 
this cautious congregation, changed methods of 
management, modified measures for the doing 
of religious work will be apt to find their way. 
In its faith and teachings this church has not 
materially varied its voice since it avowed its 
first confession, but it has repeatedly deviated 
from customs and habits prevailing at the begin- 
ning, and it is safe to predict that what would 
now be called innovations will yet be introduced. 
The only place that change never enters is a 
graveyard. Even if existing appointments and 
appliances for the prosecution of church work 
were to be retained unaltered there would still be 
occasion to press them and push them with fresh 
force and fervor at intervals. Nothing grows of 
itself in this world excepting weeds and wicked- 



Ij2 Memorials of a Century . 

ness. We have invented and put in motion piles 
of machinery to take the place of holy living and 
giving and praying, but if this church is going 
to be kept on its long-held course these old-time 
forces will have to be employed, and employed 
by each generation for itself. We have grown 
familiar with the strain, "The mill will never 
run with the water that is past." The statement 
is just as true of God's mills. Their moving 
power is indeed lodged on high, but it is through 
a redeemed humanity that the quickening spirit 
sends the energy pulsing. Up in the canyons 
of her mountains the Pacific coast finds the sup- 
plies that make arid deserts bud and fruit, but 
the rills that network her valleys fetch the puls- 
ing tides and the thirsty soil in touch. The life 
in Christ Jesus that is to bring beauty and yield 
to this corner of the gospel vineyard must find 
its way from heaven to earth in some degree 
through the sanctified souls that shall constitute 
this church in days ahead. Few churches of 
our faith in New Jersey have a richer heritage 
than this. God gave it a sturdy spiritual ances- 
try. With scarcely an exception men good, if 
not great, have been its preachers. To a very 
unusual degree it has been kept in peace. It has 
had as its officers, persons who have commanded 
general respect. It has stood at the very front 
in all of our denominational activities. It has 
been blessed with powerful revivals of religion 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. ijj 

from time to time. There is not a church in 
this old commonwealth that has more staunchly 
kept the faith, or that the Master has honored 
more. Whether this record is to continue you 
that are now in its fellowship will tell. You owe 
an unforgotten debt of gratitude to faithful ones 
now numbered with the dead. You younger dis- 
ciples owe more than you realize to noble burden- 
bearers living still. If ultimately the cause here 
shall decline ; if the church shall lose the grip it 
yet has on the region around it ; if these pews 
that so long have kept full, shall later be left half 
empty, it will not be because the fathers trans- 
mitted to the, children a poor and paltry legacy. 
I charge these older brethren and supporters 
that they do their uttermost to turn over to suc- 
cessors this interest unimpaired. Let nothing 
ever swing you or swerve you from your fealty 
to Christian comrades or their Lord and yours. 
By all precious memories linked with this sanc- 
tuary : by blessings that have here fallen on your 
souls refreshingly as summer showers; by recol- 
lections of fellow worshipers once by your sides 
but now with God, and above all in the name 
and for the sake of that Christ who loved you 
and gave himself for you, I plead with you to 
keep shoulder to shoulder and step to step till you 
hear the call to drop out coming from the skies. 
And you younger members of the church, 
listen to a few words of exhortation and appeal. 



i j f Memorials of a Century. 

You are going to help make the history of this 
body during that century over into which it is 
about to step. Would God I could make you 
understand how much the future of this Zion will 
depend on you. It can not be kept up on the high 
level occupied in the past unless you solemnly 
purpose to keep it there. I am not so anxious 
that you shall be filled with the natural enthusiasm 
of this occasion as that you shall be filled with 
the quickening energies of the Holy Spirit. 
Seek to-day to get in closer touch with Him. 
Live for Christ. Lean on His arm. Struggle to 
save your fellow men. Next to your home and 
your Lord love this church. Count it all joy to 
serve it either in the least or largest way. Then 
its future will be assured. Then the saintly 
succession of witnesses shall be preserved. Then 
life shall look bright from a dying pillow. Then 
heaven shall be to you more glad. 

And if in this congregation I speak to one by 
his birth or early training in some measure 
identified with God's people here but never 
identified vitally with the Saviour, let me plead 
with him here and now to enter into that loving 
lasting fellowship. Joshua said of these Jordan 
stones that they would witness against any who 
having seen them reared should fail to follow 
God. I say the same of every stone and every 
stick in this building where some of you from 
childhood have listened to Christ's calls as here 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 135 

voiced but have never answered. O child of 
praying parents but prayerless yourself ; O man 
or woman decent in the world's esteem but un- 
saved and so unsafe, do not make of these very 
walls witnesses to your condemnation ! 

I little suspected when I preached here twenty- 
five years ago to-day that I should be with you 
when the one hundredth birthday of the church 
should be kept. I said among my closing words 
on that occasion that when this nineteenth day 
of June, 1898, should be reached that I and the 
majority of those who heard me would in all 
probability be where -what men might say of us 
would be of slight account. In part only has 
that utterance been verified. I am here to par- 
ticipate in these services, but the larger half of 
the audience have gone over to the eternal shore. 
Of the ministers who were present that day but 
one beside myself is still on earth, and he has 
been out of the pastorate for many years. 
Thomas Swaim, G. S. Webb, H. F. Smith, Chas. 
E. Young, B. C. Morse were the others who 
spoke or prayed that sultry summer day, and 
they have all been gone for years, and every one 
of them I stood over when the grave received 
its trust. 

To name the good laymen who were with us 
then but now are not because God has taken them 
would make a long list. We miss many who would 
have been glad to be with us this hour. And 
who shall say that they are not with us ? As the 



jj6 Memorials of a Century. 

Northern warrier imagined that the shades of his 
ancestors came around him on the eve of battle 
to watch and cheer, so it may, be that all invisible 
to us the departed who once sat here are all 
around us again ! Anyhow their Lord is here. 
We hear his voice. He holds us by the hand as 
forth we go to meet the coming years and what 
they hold. His life is ours while here below we 
linger. His home above is waiting for us when 
it comes our time to go. 

"The Banyan of the Indian isle 
Spreads deeply down its massive root, 

And spreads its branching life abroad, 
And bends to earth, with scarlet fruit; 
But when the branches reach the ground, 

They firmly plant themselves again ; 
They rise and spread and droop and root, 

An ever green and endless chain. 

And so the church of Jesus Christ, 

The blessed Banyan of our God, 
Fast -rooted upon Zion's mount, 

Has sent its sheltering arms abroad ; 
And every branch that from it springs, 

In sacred beauty spreading wide, 
As low it bends to bless the earth, 

Still plants another by its side. 

Long as the world itself shall last 

The sacred Banyan still shall spread ; 
From clime to clime, from age to age 

Its sheltering shadow shall be spread ; 
Nations shall seek its pillared shade, 

Its leaves shall for their healing be ; 
The circling flood that feeds its life, 

The blood that flowed on Calvary." 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J '. ijy 

The service closed with the singing of this 
hymn which had been written for the occasion. 

Tune, "Zioii." 

"God- hath helped us, Ebenezer!" 

Israel's prophet raised the cry ; 
"God hath helped us, Ebenezer!" 

Send we back in glad reply ; 
Helped us ever; 

Helped with mercies from on high. 

Like that stone at Mizpah olden 

Set to tell of victory won ; 
Bring we tributes gracious, golden, 

Gift from every loyal son ; 
Glad memorials. 

Witnessing what God hath done. 

By the stirring records taken 

Out from history's ancient urn, 
Bid, O Lord ! our souls awaken 

And with animation turn 
To the future, 

And the lessons yet to learn. 

Benediction. 



fj8 Memorials of a Century. 



SUNDAY AFTERNOON, 

THE afternoon was devoted to a considera- 
tion of the Sunday-school, and its work. 
At three o'clock, when Superintendent 
J. W. Britton, called the gathering to order, every 
available seat was occupied and many had to 
stand all through the exercises. After singing 
and prayer, the superintendent read the follow- 
ing historical sketch : 

For the first thirty-two years of our history as 
a church, we had no Sunday-school. The insti- 
tution did not come into existence in this 
country till about the second decade of the 
present century, and even after the stronger 
churches in our towns and cities had begun to 
organize schools, we did not at once fall into line, 
for at that date we were comparatively weak. 
The little company of worshippers that then 
assembled on this spot, felt that they were 
already carrying burdens quite as heavy as they 
were competent to bear. Among them, how- 
ever, were some who greatly enjoyed the study 
of God's holy word, and after talking the matter 
over with their pastor, brother Bartolette, a 
special meeting of the church was called to dis- 
cuss the advisability of starting a school, in 
which the young should be taught scripture 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. jjcj 

truth. On the day appointed, just four persons 
came together to consider the project. It is 
fitting that we should mention, lovingly, their 
names this hour. They were the faithful Black- 
' well sisters, Jemima and Lizzie, so long fore- 
most in all good works; William Barrass, who 
quite recently came to his grave among us as a 
sheaf of grain is gathered in its season, and 
Mrs. Fowler. Undiscouraged by the apparent 
lack of interest manifested, they prayed over 
the subject and determined to call another meet- 
ing and ask the pastor to be present. How 
many responded to the second invitation we are 
not told, but the decision was reached to go 
ahead and attempt to effect an organization. 
Notice to this effect was given out, and every- 
body who was willing to help was invited to 
report the next Sabbath morning. We do not 
know the exact date, but it was a vSunday in the 
spring of 1830, that our work began. Twenty- 
five persons got together for the first session. 
Two of them were elected officers, four were 
made teachers, and nineteen were enrolled as 
scholars. The first superintendent was Mr. 
Charles George, long connected editorially with 
the Hunterdon County Gazette, now the Democrat. 
The Secretary was Mr. James Blackwell, who 
filled a place among us for more than forty 
years after that launching of the enterprise. 
The first teachers were the four persons who at- 



14.0 Memorials of a Century. 

tended the preliminary meeting, and have been 
named. Reverently they bowed their heads and 
all breathed that prayer of the inspired psalmist : 
"Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants, and 
Thy glory unto their children, and let the beauty 
of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish 
Thou the work of our hands upon us, yea, the 
work of our hands establish Thou it." Of the 
twenty-five persons who, on that Lord's day of 
1830, laid here the foundations of our Sunday- 
school work, we know of but one who is still 
living, and it is with peculiar gratitude and 
gladness that we greet him this afternoon. Our 
friend and brother, Professor Charles B. Stout, 
now of New Brunswick, was one of the first 
scholars, and he will presently tell us something 
of those far-off days. For the first eighteen 
years in the sixty-eight of our existence, we held 
no school in winter. For the past half century, 
our school has been what they sometimes call 
"an evergreen." There have been held from 
first to last, more than three thousand sessions, 
and twelve superintendents have overlooked the 
school. Let me call their names: Charles 
George, John Bartolette, Robert R. Hill, Theo- 
dore K. Higgins, Chester VanSyckel, Joseph B. 
Losey, William Barrass, Joseph Case, Dr. Mer- 
shon, John S. Higgins, George W. Abel, J. 
W. Britton. Perhaps I ought to make the 
number thirteen, for during the pastorate of 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 141 

Dr. Woods, he, for a season, admirably filled 
the office. There have been about the same 
number of persons in the offices of Secretary, 
Treasurer, and Librarian, or possibly a few 
more in some of these positions. Something 
over two hundred teachers have been connected 
with our school, and about eighteen hundred 
scholars. Nearly three thousand volumes have 
had a place on the shelves of the library, and 
over one hundred and twenty thousand papers 
and periodicals have been distributed. The 
money raised for all objects, so far as reported, is 
eleven thousand dollars. Obviously enough, the 
work done can be but imperfectly reported by 
figures. Eternity alone will disclose the results 
of holy endeavor along any lines, but I mention 
these statistics simply to show what has been 
attempted here. The righteous dead who have 
passed into the clearer light of the beyond, 
probably discern more perfectly than we can, 
what pious endeavors issue in, and if they know 
what transpires on earth, it pretty surely must 
enhance the blessedness on which they have 
entered to see what gracious effects have followed 
the influences which they here put in operation. 
I know that you will all join me in the desire 
that the memory of pioneer toilers may abide 
among us as fragrant as these June flowers, and 
that all will as fervently pray that the school of 
1898, may be characterized by the same devotion 



i/j.2 Memorials of a Century. 

that marked it in 1830, when with our founders 
it was emphatically the day of small things. 

This day not only celebrates the one hundredth 
anniversary of our church, and the sixty-eighth 
of our school, but it completes the twenty-fifth 
year of my service in this office. You will not 
think it egotistic in me to make mention of this 
fact amid all our other recollections. Full well 
I know that it is your forbearance rather than 
my personal fitness that has kept me here so 
long, but I want to express my gratitude to our 
one Master, and to you my fellow-helpers over 
this quarter of a century of service. If it has 
not been specially efficient or successful, it has 
at least been a period of honest attempt at well- 
doing. No one can realize more profoundly 
than I have, how manifold have been official as 
well as individual failings, but 1 take the record, 
where I have had to take many others, to Him 
who pities and pardons beyond what earthly 
father ever did, and with the trust that in spite 
of flaws and failures, He will see in the work a 
humble aim to please Him, and help others 
toward Christ and heaven. 

Prof. C. B. Stout then spoke in these words, 
of early days : 

It gives a native of this village the greatest 
pleasure to meet with the church of his child- 
hood on an occasion of so much interest as this 






Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. j^j 

centennial celebration and present his warmest 
congratulations, though the fact that I am the 
last survivor of those who united in forming 
your first Sunday School sixty-eight years ago 
cannot fail to bring many saddening reflections. 
''Shadows we are indeed, and shadows we pur- 
sue." At that time and for a long period the 
Rev. Charles Bartolette, whose honorable name 
I am proud to bear, was pastor of the church, a 
genial Christian gentleman, and far more attrac- 
tive in appearance than any picture of him your 
speaker has ever seen. The first Superintendent 
of the Sunday School was Charles George, foun- 
der of The Hunterdon Gazette, I believe, and for 
many years its editor and proprietor. He, too, 
was friendly and popular, and like his pastor, 
admirably adapted to the founding and up-build- 
ing of the School. The meeting house was not 
only old, but old-fashioned, remarkably plain and 
bare, without carpet or cushion, and having but 
one room for all purposes, the Sunday School was 
organized in a corner of the gallery. Our little 
library was contained in a small unpainted closet, 
and the only other books used were the testament 
and spelling book, in which children were taught 
their letters as well as spelling and reading. It 
was my good fortune to be placed in the class 
of Miss Jemima Blackwell, a prominent member 
of a distinguished family, long and influentially 
identified with this dear old church, and it was 



14.4. Memorials of a Century. 

my privilege to visit her honored grave in yonder 
cemetery before these impressive exercises be- 
gan. The high, straight back seats in the old 
meeting house referred to, were in no wise con- 
ducive to making either old or young at ease in 
Zion, while the means for warming and lighting 
were far from being satisfactory. Evening meet- 
ings were called at "early candle light," the 
candles themselves were slender tallow " dips," 
in plain brass sticks or tin sconces, requiring fre- 
quent snuffing, and then only making the dark- 
ness visible. But under all these unfavorable 
circumstances good work was done, strong and 
broad foundations laid, and it was there your 
speaker found the Friend above all others, as he 
gratefully records this memorable day. 

Time would fail to depict more at length the 
days that are gone to return no more, or to dwell 
upon the fruitful history of nearly three-score 
years and ten embraced in the lifetime of this 
Sunday School. The reports show the number 
of branches that have sprung from this vigorous 
vine, the new schools organized, etc., but the 
real results of this holy Christian endeavor must 
await the disclosures of another world. May the 
time to come bring an increased number of 
Churches, Sunday Schools, Preachers, Teachers, 
and more Spiritual power in every direction. 
The future is full of hope, of promising oppor- 
tunities and glorious possibilities. May this an- 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 14.5 

niversary furnish a new point of departure, and 
henceforth our lives have higher aims, larger 
light, improved facilities and holier consecration. 
What shall our harvest be for the new century 
just before us? There are none here now who 
began this one. Not one of us will be here 
when the next shall close. But we also are 
makers of history, and that very rapidly. Let 
us make it for the Judgment, and labor on till 
the Master comes. Thus building on ideas and 
truth we shall indeed build for eternity, and 
while standing between the living and the dead, 
as we literally do in this place and at this impres- 
sive period — dedicate ourselves anew to Christ 
and His church, 

" And departing, leave behind us, 
Footprints in the sands of time." 

Mr. Joseph B. Losey of Somerville, a former 
superintendent of the school, referred very ten- 
derly to his connection with it in previous years, 
and Dr. Vassar called up some incidents of a 
quarter of a century ago. With singing and 
benediction the afternoon session closed. 



1 46 Memorials of a Century. 



SUNDAY EVENING, 

THE evening services began with a meeting 
of the Y. P. S. C. E. in the lecture room. 
In addition to the usual order of prayer and song 
and testimony, the following paper was read : 

In 1874, the young men of the church began 
holding a prayer meeting in the church parlor 
on Sunday evening an hour before the evening 
service. About a year later the young ladies 
were admitted and it was called the "Young 
People's Prayer Meeting." A treasurer was 
elected to take charge of the collection which 
was taken up at every meeting. The money 
wras applied to different objects as calls came 
from time to time. A new organ, to be used in 
the prayer meetings of the young people as well 
as in Sunday School and the weekday prayer 
meetings, was purchased. 

The prayer meetings were kept up although 
most of the young men that started them either 
left town or stopped attending and sometimes the 
attendance was very small, still there were a few 
faithful ones, 

Sometime in the year 1886 the question arose, 
why not have a regularly organized society? 
Meetings were held and discussions arose regard- 
ing the kind of society it was best to have. 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 14.7 

Finally, December 21, 1886, the Young People's 
Association was organized, with Charlton Reed 
for President. It is impossible at the present 
time to give much of its work, as the Secretary's 
book cannot be found. The prayer meeting and 
association were united soon after the organiza- 
tion and an impetus given to the former, which 
lasted for several years. 

Considerable money was raised by the Associ- 
ation in various ways and a large part of it used 
here in the church. The parlor was papered and 
a new carpet purchased for the floor. When the 
church was re-modeled the Association supplied 
the furniture for the pulpit ; a new piano was 
bought for the use of the church whenever 
needed. Other people outside our church were 
helped as well, by money given when asked for. 
Phillipsburg was one place where the Association 
invested some of its funds. 

The Association grew until it had one hundred 
and thirteen members, and raised about eleven 
hundred dollars in the ten years of its existence. 

May 8, 1896, the organization changed again 
and became a Christian Endeavor Society, with 
twenty-one active members and three associate. 
We now have sixty active, eighteen associate and 
ten honorary, making altogether eighty-eight. 
Eight of the associate have become active mem- 
bers. 

The Christian Endeavor Society holds its 



14.8 Memorials of a Century. 

prayer meeting Sunday evening at 6:45. Each 
member pledges herself or himself to give a 
stated sum monthly into the treasury of the 
society. It has also raised some money by means 
of two concerts and a supper : in all about one 
hundred and forty dollars. Thus far the money 
has all been expended upon ourselves, which is 
rather selfish, for we do think we should remem- 
ber that while charity begins at home it should 
not stay there. 

Frank Dilts, Secretary. 

After the meeting of the young people the 
more public service of the evening was held, 
beginning at 7 145 . The Presbyterian and Metho- 
dist churches of the village courteously gave up 
their own meeting and with their pastors partici- 
pated in the closing gathering of the three days. 
This massing together of the three congregations 
brought together an audience that crowded the 
house. It had been hoped that Dr. Henry G. 
Weston, the honored president of Crozer Theo- 
logical Seminary, might be the preacher for the 
evening, but as that arrangement could not be 
effected, ex-pastors Chapell and Vassar consented 
to occupy the hour. 

The Rev. F. L. Chapell made the first address ; 
and though he had no manuscript and no 
stenographic report was made, it is believed 
that the following, recalled from memory, em- 
bodies the main thoughts presented. 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 149 

ADDRESS, 

The Prominence of the Word in the divine ad- 
ministration of the present time is well worth 
attention on an occasion like this. 

Divine working in the world is mainly through 
three agencies ; namely, the ordinances, the 
Word and the Spirit ; corresponding and appeal- 
ing, in some sense, to the tripartite nature of 
man, as he consists of body, mind and spirit. 
The ordinances touch the body, the Word 
appeals to the mind, and the Spirit of God inter- 
penetrates the spirit of man. All three of these 
are necessary to complete divine working. No 
one of them can be properly omitted. The 
ordinances are perhaps the less important, and 
yet they can never be omitted or impaired with- 
out loss. 

But it is noticeable that some one of these three 
means of divine working may be more promi- 
nent at one time than the others. Thus in the 
earlier years of the Jewish dispensation, when 
tabernacle and temple and priesthood and the 
Skekinah were in service, the ordinances were 
more prominent. At that time there were but 
few scriptures, and scarcely any means of circu- 
lating what there were : while the Spirit was 
chiefly upon a few official persons. In the later 
years of that dispensation, in and after the 
captivity, the Word came into prominence. At 



i^o Memorials of a Century. 

the restoration a collection of the sacred writings 
was made, the devotional and prophetical books 
being added to the law. The synagogue service 
arose in every place and the scriptures were read 
every Sabbath day publically, while the order of 
Scribes was instituted to multiply copies and to 
interpret them. 

On the day of Pentecost the Spirit came into 
prominence, being no longer confined to official 
personages, but poured out on all flesh, all classes 
and condition, both sexes and all ages. 

And all through the Christian dispensation the 
Spirit has been the leading factor in true religion. 
Whenever apostasy has crept in through undue 
attention to the ordinances or to the word, 
causing ritualism or rationalism, the Spirit has 
come to revive and correct, producing what we 
have come to call "Revivals of religion." We 
are all more or less familiar with this phase of 
divine working. The historical review we have 
been engaged in has brought to mind the various 
revivals, which this church has enjoyed. 

But a careful and honest survey of the century 
reveals the fact that our revivals are not now 
what they once were. In the first half of the 
century they came without human agency and 
were of sweeping power. But revivals, as we 
still call them, have to be planned for and worked 
for, and are comparatively feeble and superficial 
in their results. But meantime the word has 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 151 

come into a peculiar prominence. Various trans- 
lations, various styles of printing and binding,, 
many multiplications of helps for Bible study, 
courses of study in our Sunday Schools, various 
Bible Institutes, great cheapness in price of Bi- 
bles, and many such things have combined to 
make the Word prominent just now. The word 
is much more used in our so called revival meet- 
ings. The inquirer after salvation is pointed to 
a text and told to believe it, rather than expected 
to go mourning for months until the Spirit gave 
him peace, as it used to be in olden times. 

Now what is the meaning of the present situa- 
tion ? Why is God emphasizing the Word at this 
time? How are we to meet these peculiar con- 
ditions? 

It seems to me that God means a great deal 
by this state of things, and that we ought to give 
very earnest heed to His providential voice. I 
believe that we are coming into times where 
only an obedient following of the word will save 
us from drifting into a world-conforming apos- 
tasy. Christianity is so different from human 
schemes of philanthropy and reform that unless 
we are well posted in the scriptures we shall 
drift with the world. We have not yet escaped 
all the errors of the middle-age's apostasy. We 
have not yet gotten wholly back to apostolic 
Christianity. We do not yet see as clearly as we 
ought the true nature of the church as a called- 



1 52 Memorials of a Century. 

out body. We are yet too much influenced by 
sentiment rather than by revealed truth . We 
are, many of us, putting too much of our 
strength into the things of the world. Thou- 
sands are being led astray by seductive isms that 
seem so harmless. 

Now the only safety in these times is such an 
obedient attention to the word as we have not 
hitherto given. We must know it in breadth 
and general scope as well as in its particular pre- 
cepts. There is too much textual preaching, 
which in fact is not even textual ; but a use of 
a text on which to hang a human thought. We 
need to know prophecy and the great sweep of 
God's purposes and what He is requiring of us 
of to-day. We must take the whole armor of 
God that we may be able to stand in the evil 
day. I fear we do not fully understand how 
evil the present day is. How seductive is the evil 
of the present time. God means a great deal 
when He is putting His word into our hands 
in a way He never has in all the history of the 
world before, that a "light shining in a dark 
place until the day dawns." Will you take 
proper heed to it as you start out on another cen- 
tury? A century, which, as I have been led to 
think, will bring such a consummation and crisis 
as has never yet dawned on the earth? God's 
word contains ample directions for these coming 
days. And He has wonderfully set it before us 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 15 J 

and put it in our hands. Our ordinances are few 
and simple. The Spirit no longer compels us ; 
but He whispers " Thy word is a lamp," the way 
is "straight and narrow." "Walk before Me 
and be thou perfect," for " the law of the Lord 

is PERFECT." 

Dr. Vassar closed the exercises with these re- 
marks : 

Twenty-five years ago to-night I stood on this 
platform uttering the words that brought to an 
end the seventy-fifth anniversary of the church. 
Around 'me sat Dr. Thomas Swaim, Dr. G. S. 
Webb, Dr. H. F. Smith, and brethren B. C. 
Morse, and Charles E. Young. All of them had 
been participating in the services of that occa- 
sion, and of that group of honored ministers I 
alone am left. All the others have been gone 
from earth from a dozen to twenty years. Natu- 
rally enough thought is busy with the changes 
that have been wrought. Changes not in the 
pulpit only ; changes quite as marked and many 
in the pews. I can count from memory at least 
two hundred who were in these seats in 1873 but 
have one after another dropped out as the seasons 
like flitting shadows have come and gone. But 
reminiscences have claimed so much of our atten- 
tion these days past that the last moments of the 
service may profitably sweep the other away. 
On the isthmus of Panama there is said to be a 



1 34- Memorials of a Century. 

rise of ground standing on which in a still night 
one may distinctly hear the murmur of the two 
great oceans that wash its upper and lower shores./ 
On the one hand lies the Atlantic, and on the 
other the Pacific beats, and from the one and 
toward the other the traveller passes with every 
step. In the history of the individual, and the 
church as well, there is such a pass. This church 
stands there to-night. We have been listening 
to the voices of the past. We have caught the 
echoes of times and seasons gone. Suppose we 
now face the other way. This then is my exhor- 
tation to the Flemington flock. Look forward 
rather than back. Recollection has been having 
free play through these hours. That was right. 
Retrospection is occasionally a proper thing. 
Meditation on God's mercies is not a waste of 
time. But it is possible for a man or a group of 
men to sit down too well satisfied with their out- 
look. The survey of a given period may lead to 
over much gratulation. Paul saw the peril here, 
and so he cries, " forgetting the things that are 
past." That is to say, do not let the successes 
or failures already met halt you. Never mind 
what you have achieved. Larger endeavors and 
triumphs await you. The old song correctly 
says that the mill will never run with the water 
that is past. All the good there is in the review 
of vanished years is the motive they furnish for 
new undertakings. The Flemington Baptists of 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J . 155 

1798 did their work. The Flemington Baptists 
of 1898 must face theirs. This is not any time 
for complacent folding of hands as if the mission 
of this church had been achieved. This is not 
the place for flourish of trumpets, and waving of 
flags. It is rather a bit of holy ground to kneel 
down on with a new devotion to the Captain and 
His cause. 

Then there is another charge I bring you, be- 
loved, at this point; look out and not in. Piety 
sometimes gets diseased through over-much of 
introspection. It is not best to peer around too 
frequently or too closely in quest of what is 
either good or bad in the church. Christ's order 
to disciples was to lift up their eyes and look on 
the fields. He has not changed it since. You 
will never get much impulse to righteous action 
from an inspection of your own heart or the 
hearts of comrades in the camp where you belong. 
You will find it where your Lord did by eyeing 
the sad case of the multitude scattered abroad as 
sheep having no shepherd. See how many there 
be about you even in this gospel-blest com- 
munity who are living and dying having no 
hope. Mark how weary and dissatisfied a face 
they wear. Behold how swiftly they are speed- 
ing onward toward the bar of God and its set- 
tlements and plead with them to turn around 
and lay hold of the Christ who only can make 
this or any other life glad and glorious ! Gaze 



156 Memorials of a Century. 

on your fellow men as Jesus gazed on the thought- 
less crowds in old Jerusalem, and find in their 
condition a perpetual incentive to work and pray 
for their salvation. And finally, brethren, look 
up and not down. I do firmly believe there are 
victories for you yet to win that shall surpass 
anything yet sighted, but I as firmly believe that 
to gain them you have got to get in the closest 
touch with all the invincible energies of the Holy 
Ghost. I doubt whether the years that lie just 
ahead of us are going to be years in which our 
Christian faith is going to have what is some- 
times called "a walk-over." On the other hand 
I have a conviction that those who are to win 
souls for the Lord and his church may require 
the Mighty Spirit in His sevenfold energies. 
God's toilers will have to look up or give up. 
Be sure that there will be emergencies of Chris- 
tian effort when your courage will fail you un- 
less you lift up your eyes like the psalmist to the 
hills whence cometh help. You will worry and 
wail perhaps over some who will make shipwreck 
of faith and a good conscience. You will be 
disheartened over the poor dying rate at which 
some will creep along toward a lofty Christian 
experience. You will sigh over dark days in Zion, 
but beloved nothing can shake the trust or the 
courage of one who fixes his eye on his Lord and 
Leader eternally. Lean against God's promises 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 157 

as a rock, and keep the vision fixed on God's 
throne, and nothing can daunt or dishearten. 

And so brothers we close these days of glad 
remembrance and sweet communion. We have 
been like those priviledged apostles who on the 
radiant mount witnessed the transfiguration of 
their Lord. To-morrow the vision will fade 
away. We shall betake ourselves to the daily 
round of work and worry, but some of the gra- 
cious influences ought to step over into the week 
with us and keep us company. And all these 
hill-top elevations and outlooks ought to be a 
preparation for that completer fellowship with 
the saints in light. Thither we are moving fast. 
A few more of these quick-returning salutations 
and we go to <k join the blood-besprinkled band 
on the eternal shore." In Plymouth Church, 
Brooklyn they used to have, and perhaps still 
have, a song which they always sung just before 
the long Summer vacation began, and the classes 
got broken up and scattered. Some of its strains 
seem suited to this hour. 

"We linger in our parting song 

We praise Thee as we sever, 
The Summer days will not be long 

Ere we shall praise forever. 
All hail then to the Summer land 

Whose blossoms never wither, 
Though here we part each other's hand 

We'll keep our journey thither." 



1898, 



THE BAPTIST CHURCH, 

AT PLEMINGTONj N, J, 



OFFICERS, 



Pastor, Rev. L. D. Temple.* 



Deacons: 
Asa Suydam. 
Chester Van Syckel. 
Jonathan Higgins. 
George C. Higgins. 
J. Wesley Britton. 
Josiah C. Britton. 



Trustees: 
Vandavier Higgins. 
Wm. E. Trewin. 
Jesse Merrell. 
William Fisher. 
Wm. J. Suydam. 
J. Schenck Higgins. 
E. D. Knower. 



Church Clerk, George E. Britton. 
Treasurer, Howard Sutphin. 



=* Settled since the Centennial. 



160 Memorials of a Century. 



Abbott, Alice Higgins b 

Abel, Horace G b 

Anderson, Mary Hartpence b 

Apgar, George b 

Bacorn, George b 

Baird, Sallie Barton b 

Bancroft, Susan Rowe b 

Barrass, Martha Ann Blackwell b 

Barrass, Richard b 

Barrass, Mary Gulick b 

Barrass, Mary Smith b 

Barrass, Josie Dilts b 

Barrass, William, Jr b 

Barrass, Howard b 

Barrass, Alice b 

Barrass, Bessie b 

Barrass, Stella Rice b 

Barrass, Mary b 

Barrass, Rose b 

Barrass, Richard, Jr b 

Bartles, Nettie Hill b 

Barton, Willam S b 

Barton, Bertha Britton b 

Barton, Susan Merrell l 

Bellis, Emma Higgins b 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 161 

Bennett, Benjamin l '97 

Bennett, Harriet C. Howe b '96 

Biggs, David b '90 

Bloomer, Ada M. Green b '94 

Bond, Mary Hampton l '89 

Boyd, Martha Britton b '71 

Brewer, Jane l '92 

Brewer, Elizabeth Carkhuff b '44 

Brewer, Margaret Brewer b '68 

Brewer, Hannah b '85 

Britton, Martha Higgins b '35 

Britton, John Wesley b '56 

Britton, Ann Jeroloman b '60 

Britton, Ellen Ewing b '60 

Britton, Josiah C b '64 

Britton, Ellen b '64 

Britton, Georgiana b '64 

Britton, Henry b '64 

Britton, Sarah Drake b '68 

Britton, Sarah P b '70 

Britton, George E b '87 

Britton, William J b '87 

Britton, J. Arthur b '87 

Britton, Julia Salter l '90 

Britton, Harry W b '91 

Britton, Raymond b '91 

Britton, Cornelia C b '95 

Britton, Harry b '95 

Britton, Annie b '97 

Brokaw, Bessie Abel b '76 

Brokaw, Bergen H b '90 

Brown, Mary Cronce b '56 

Buchanan, Anna Ellen Hughes b '54 



162 Memorials of a Century. 

Buchanan, Elizabeth b '58 

Buchanan, William S b '74 

Buchanan, Kate Deats b '74 

Buchanan, Willis b '90 

Buchanan, Charles b '90 

Buchanan, John H b '96 

Buchanan, Ella b '97 

Burd, Leonard G , b '64 

Burd, Elizabeth Potts b '64 

Burd, T. B. J l '72 

Burd, Kate Fulper b '68 

Burd, Joseph P b '82 

Burd, Mary G b '87 

Burd, Sadie b '90 

Burd, Harriet Schlapfer. b '94 

Burket, Corinda Walker b '87 

Burket, Lemuel b '90 

Campbell, Louisa Hoagland b '70 

Carkhuff, Margaret Case b '41 

Carkhuff, Theodore S b '60 

Carkhuff, Sarah E b '68 

Carkhuff, Henrietta Yard b '76 

Carkhuff, Peter J l '94 

Carkhuff, Mattie Hoff l '94 

Case, Hannah Bateman b '76 

Case, Daniel P l '95 

Case, Minnie Sterms l '95 

Case, Jonathan l '98 

Castner, Millard P l '89 

Castner, Abbie l '89 

Chamberlin, Mary l '91 

Choyce, Rebecca. „ b '76 

Clawson, Abel S l '72 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. i6j 

Clawson, Ethel b '90 

Clawson, Granville b '92 

Clayton, Charity Hummer b '64 

Cole, Ella Ewing b '71 

Coleman, Levina Baird b '91 

Coleman, Frank b '94 

Conover, Mary E b '82 

Conover, Harriet b '92 

Conover, Nellie b '92 

Conover, Sadie b '92 

Conover, Naomi b '94 

Coyle, Ella Gordon b '87 

Cronce, Rachel Gulick b '62 

Cronce, Richard b '77 

Cronce, Mary b '77 

Cronce, Henry b '82 

Cronce, Mary b '92 

Crum, Gussie b '93 

Dalrymple, Clara Hoff b '87 

Davis, Minnie V. Miller b '92 

Dean, Tillie Barrass b '87 

Dean, George W b '94 

Dean, Walter R b '94 

Demott, Sallie Higgins b '64 

Dilts, Anna Dean l '71 

Dilts, Oliver C l '76 

Dilts, Theodore b '92 

Dilts, Laura l '94 

Dilts, Lizzie l '94 

Dilts, Hannah F l '95 

Dilts, Rachael A. Merrell l '97 

Dilts, Frank b '97 



164. Memorials of a Century. 

Downs, Susan Cole b '56 

Ent, Getta Maria Carkhuff b '64 

Ent, Margaretta Biggs b '64 

Ent, Laura b '95 

Everitt, Ezekiel L l '58 

Everitt, Mary Wilson b '76 

Everitt, Elnora Higgins b '64 

Everitt, William L l '91 

Everitt Annie b '97 

Ewing, Ann Higgins b '42 

Ewing, James G b '49 

Ewing, Martha b '51 

Ewing. Eliza Brewer b '74 

Ewing, Georgia Emma b '76 

Ewing, Julia A. Clawson b '82 

Emerson, Kittie Rockafellow b '87 

Fackenthall, Clarissa Smith b '56 

Fackenthall, William b '70 

Fink, Chrissie Cook b '73 

Fink, Henry b '80 

Fink, Ida b '93 

Fisher, William b '70 

Fisher, Ellen Hope e '70 

Fisher, Luella Stout b '74 

Fisher, George E b '82 

Fisher, Mary Leigh b '87 

Fisher, Charles T b '87 

Fisher, Mary R b '88 

Fleming, Amanda Dilley b '65 

Fluck, Henry A b '71 

Fluck, Anna Parker b '69 



Baptist CJmrcJi, Flemington, N. J . 265 

Fluck, Linton b '97 

Forker, Rebecca Housel b '38 

Forker, Elmira b '54 

Freeman, Anna M. Higgins b '&$ 

Fulper, Jane Forker b '43 

Fulper, Mary Higgins b '56 

Fulper, Charles b '64 

Fulper, Catharine Van Fleet b '69 

Fulper, George W b '87 

Fulper, Mary C. Reading b '87 

Fulper, William H., Jr b '87 

Fulper, Julia b '90 

Fulper, Martha R b '94 

Fulper, Harry D b '94 

Fulper, Eva b '97 

Gaddis, Annie E. Hoffman b '60 

Gano, John b '69 

Gary, Mahlon G l '94 

Gary, Margaret L l '94 

Golden, Carrie Rockafellow b '74 

Goodfellow, James b '90 

Grabow, John H b '74 

Grabow, Christina Disbrow b '74 

Gray, Matilda Case b '38 

Gray, Elizabeth b '68 

Gray, Mary R b '77 

Green, Julia Dean b '87 

Green, Harry b '87 

Gulick, Henry b '56 

Hall, Mary A. Losey b '56 

Hall, William H l '69 



1 66 Memorials of a Century. 

Hall, Evangeline Rockafellow l '69 

Hanson, Davis b '74 

Hann, Stacy e '76 

Hann, Mary e '76 

Hanson, George F b '77 

Hanson, Fanny Holcomh b '82 

Hall, Nettie b '87 

Hann, Isaac b '87 

Hann, Lewis b '87 

Hann, Albert b '92 

Hampton, Joseph l '89 

Hampton, Susan Swallow l '89 

Hardin, Mary C b '94 

Hanson, Mary J b '94 

Hall, Margaret b '97 

Henry, Francis E b '92 

Henry, Ann l '91 

Higgins, Sarah B b '51 

Higgins, Johanna b '51 

Higgins, Lucretia Rockafellow b '51 

Higgins, Vandavier b '54 

Higgins, Mary R b '54 

Higgins, Eliza Rockafellow . .l '54 

Higgins, Lizzie Jeroloman l '58 

Higgins, Lydia Jeroloman l '58 

Higgins, David E b '60 

Higgins, George C b '63 

Higgins, Jonathan b '64 

Higgins, Anna b '64 

Higgins, Ezekiel L b '68 

Higgins, Jacob V b '69 

Higgins, G. Barton b '74 

Higgins, Ella C . b '74 



Baptist Church, FUmington, N. J . 



i6j 



Higg 
Higg 
Higg 
Higg 
Higg 
Higg 
Higg 
Higg 
Higg 
Higg 
Higg 
Higg 
Higg 
Higg 
Higg 
Higg 
Higg 
Higg 
Higg 
Higg 
Higg 
Higg 
Higg 



ins, Issachar b 

ins, Mary Marsh b 

ins, James J b 

ms, Leila M b 

;, Lucinda Larue e 

ns, Bessie Thompson b 

ms. Sarah Gaddis b 

>. Bessie b 

ms, Lucretia b 

ins, Edward R b 

ins, Lizzie B b 

ins, Judiah b 

ins, Gussie Snedeker l 

ms. William A b 

ms, Mabel b 

ins, J. Schenck b 

ins, D. Walter b 

ins, Martha K l 

ms, Mary b 

ms, William F b 

ins, Alexander b 

ins, Harry V b 

ins, Helen R b 

Hill, John B l 

Hill, George W b 

Hill, John b 

Hill, Carrie b 

Hill, Mary Bloom b 

Hill, Kate Yard b 

Hilyer, Pierson W b 

Hilyer, Fanny Snyder b 

Hoagland, Lizzie b 

Hoaofland, Gardner b 



1^ 
76 

'77 
78 

'78 
'8o 
'82 
'87 
'8 7 
'87 
'87 
'8 7 
7 
90 
'90 
'90 
'92 
'92 
^3 
94 

'95 
•96 
'96 

75 
77 
'82 

'$3 
'S6 
jo 

'87 

'87 

'7 

97 



1 68 Memorials of a Century. 

Hoagland, Lena b 

Hopewell, Ida Harsell b 

Hughes, Arthur. . b 

Hughes, Susan Stires b 

Hughes, Ella Rittenhouse b 

Hughes, William, Jr b 

Hughes, George C b 

Hughes, Bertha b 

Hyde, Hulda Rittenhouse l 

Hyde, Clifford b 

Hyde, EllaG b 

Hyde, Emily F l 

Jefferson, Thomas e 

Jefferson, Christopher K b 

Johnson, Ann l 

Johnson, Anna Hill b 

Johnson, Mamie b 

Johnson, Addie S b 

Johnson, Maggie b 

Johnson, John l 

Johnson, Robert l 

Johnson, Kate l 

Johnson, Theodore W b 

Johnson, Anna Gethard b 

Kerr, Mary Miller b 

Kilgore, Mary V b 

Kilgore, Alice b 

Kilgore, Ella Dunham b 

Kilgore, Jennie b 

Knower, Edward D b 

Knower, Ella Riley b 

Knower, Mary B b 



7* 
7 
5 1 
'67 
'76 
2 

>2 

'87 

78 
'82 

7 
92 

'74 
43 
•64 
'82 

'85 
'87 
90 
'90 
'90 
'90 
'9° 
'94 
'9 1 
•6 4 
'64 

'77 
90 
'70 
70 
'90 



Baptist ChurcJi, Flcmington, N. J. 169 

Knower, John b '92 

Lake, Hannah Danbury b '48 

Lair, George b '74 

Larue, Rachel, . , .b '90 

Larue, Minnie b '93 

Leigh, Samuel b '29 

Leigh, Jennie . . b '90 

Lederer. Charles b '90 

Lovell, Annie E. Fisher b '82 

Losey, Maggie b '90 

Losey, Catharine r '90 

Lott, Lizzie H b '94 

Lott, Mabel B '97 

Lott, Edna b '97 

Mattison, Mary Britton b '73 

Marsh, Mary Higgins, b '70 

Mahoney, Mary Rittenhouse l '92 

Mathews, Edwin b '92 

Mattison, Lizzie Deats. b '92 

Marsh, Edith B b '96 

MeCann, Jane Hoff. b '42 

McCann, Louie C ". . b '82 

McPherson, Charity Hill . l '87 

McPherson, Willard F. . b '94 

Merrell, Jane Hixon Bullock b '48 

Merrell, Jesse b '60 

Merrell, Anna M. Suydam. b '64 

Merrell, Lucinda D . . b '86 

Merrell, Catharine S.- b '94 

Miller, William b '71 

Miller, Aletta Cronce b '71 



ijo Memorials of a Century. 

Miller, Julia Griggs b 

Miller, James b 

Miller, John M b 

Miller, Raymond b 

Miller, Mrs. John l 

Miller, George b 

Moore, Charlotte Swallow b 

Moore, Mary b 

Moore, Lizzie Servis l 

Murray, Anna Case b 

Murray, Kate b 

Opcdyke, Lewis A b 

Opcdyke, Jemima Hartpence b 

Opcdyke, Lizzie A b 

Parker, Ellen Higgins l 

Paul, Harry H b 

Paul, Tillie b 

Peterson, Lizzie M. Reading b 

Pimm, Wm . B r 

Pimm, Hattie Madara b 

Pilger, Jacob G e 

Pilger, Mary Everitt l 

Pilger, John G b 

Pilger, Ella Yard b 

Poulson, Emma Hudnit b 

Price, Lillian Warman . b 



90 

90 
92 
92 
92 

93 
38 
94 
B7 

77 
77 

74 
94 
94 

5 2 
96 
96 
94 
87 
87 
90 
90 

94 
90 

77 
76 

^3 



Ramsey, May Sutphin b 

Reading, Oscar 1 

Reading, Cesar . . b 51 

Reading, Hannah Boeman b '54 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 

Reading, Bessie l 

Riley, William S . . . . >. e 

Riley, Maria Sked e 

Rittenhouse, Hawley O b 

Rittenhouse, Elnora Olmstead b 

Rittenhouse, Jane Shepherd b 

Rittenhouse, Albertus K l 

Rittenhouse, Will Fisher l 

Rittenhouse, Bertha b 

Rittenhouse, Kate Stryker b 

Rice, Forest A b 

Rice, Josephine Opcdyke b 

Rice, Albert A b 

Rice, Eva b 

Risinger, Anna Yard b 

Rockafellow, Martha B b 

Rockafellow, Emily b 

Rockafellow, Ann E. Leigh b 

Rockafellow, John M b 

Rockafellow, Tillie b 

Rockafellow, Peter S b 

Rockafellow, Mary b 

Rockafellow, Mary L b 

Rockafellow, Ella V b 

Rockafellow, Georgia C b 

Rockafellow, Lizzie R b 

Rockafellow, Joseph r 

Robbins, Elizabath Roberson l 

Robbins, Susan Rittenhouse b 

Robbins, Bertha b 

Robinson, Betty b 

Roberson, Amzi l 



iyi 



'96 
78 
78 
73 
'77 
'76 
92 
12 
92 
'92 
'76 
'8o 

'94 
•96 
'90 
'5 1 
'5i 
'54 
'74 
'74 

74 
2 

86 
'87 
'87 
'87 
'87 
'74 
'78 

'87 
2 

'83 



1J2 Memorials of a Century. 

Rowe, Jacob R b '92 

Rowe, Mary b '92 

Rowe, Lizzie . b '92 

Salter, Esther Dalrymple. e '69 

Salter, Joseph b '76 

Schenck, Ella Johnson b '68 

Schenck, Laura Barton b '74 

Schenck, Peter C b '82 

Schenck, Susan P b '94 

vSchenck, Anna M b '94 

Schlapfer, Albert b '87 

Schlapfer, Mary Swallow b '87 

Scudder, Laura Higgins b '87 

Sebring, Anna Rockafellow b '74 

Servis, Theodore l '87 

Sheppard, William E l '59 

Sheppard, Mary Bateman b '76 

Shrope, Rebecca l '90 

Sheppard, Jennie Nevius b '74 

Sheppard, Howard b '90 

Sheats, Catharine Ewing l '71 

Shurts, Anna G. Cronce b '82 

Simmons, Walter Edward b '94 

Sloff, John A b '93 

Sloff, Mary Williamson b '83 

Smith, Catharine Leigh b '43 

Smith, William B l '77 

Smith, Lewis K l '77 

Smith, Oliver b '82 

Smith, Lincoln G b '82 

Smith, Charles b '82 

Smith, Jane Stewart l '82 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J . iyj 

Smith, Lizzie McCann b '82 

Smith, Walter b '87 

Smith, Lewis K l '91 

Smith, James b '92 

Smith, Lillie b '92 

Smith, Adelbert b '92 

Smith, Olivia C l '95 

Smith, Laura b '95 

Snyder, Rebecca Dean b '87 

Snyder, Laura Dean b '87 

Snyder, Lida Griggs b '87 

Snyder, Henry l '92 

Snyder, Charles l '92 

Snyder, Jennie l '92 

Snyder, Maggie M b '97 

Snedeker, Helen l '97 

Sproul, Florence Hyde b '95 

Sproul, Eleanor b '97 

Stout, Ann b '42 

Stout, William b '51 

Stryker, Mary Rowe b '75 

Stothoff, Emma Hill l '75 

Stenabaugh, Tillie Pimm b '79 

Stone, Josiah A b '82 

Stothoff, Samuel b '90 

Stryker, Asher b '92 

Stryker, Hannah l '95 

Suydam, Daniel b '38 

Suydam, Asa b '48 

Suydam, Hannah b '64 

Suydam, Emily Parker b '64 

Suydam, Robert R l '68 

Suydam, Henry b '69 



*u 



Memorials of a Century 



Suydam, V.it.taq Trimmer b '69 

Suydam, William J b '74 

Suydam, Ella R . . . b '74 

Suydam, Katie b '76 

Suydam, Corinda Higgins b '83 

Suydam, Mary b '97 

Sutphin, Elizabeth Groff b '68 

Sutphin, Howard b '80 

Sutphin, Nedwell b '94 

Sutphin, Bessie b '97 

Sutphin, Annie b '97 

Sutton, Jonathan P l '94 

Sutton, Mary E. Gary l '94 

Sutton, James b '97 

Swallow, William B. b '39 

Swallow, Emma b '64 

Swallow, Hannah E. Higgins l '72 

Tennent, Ann E. Van Syckel b '83 

Thatcher, William H b '83 

Thatcher, Barton H b '92 

Trewin, William E b '70 

Trewin, Alice Brewer b '74 

Trewin, Robert b '82 

Trewin, Peter E b '83 

Trewin, Charlotte Harrison b '83 

Trimmer, Elizabeth Robbins l '69 



Van Syckel, Chester l '59 

Van Syckel, Mary J. Mount l '71 

Van Syckel, Mary b '77 

Van Syckel, Emmet b '87 

Van Syckel, Jennie b '90 



Baptist Church, Flemington, N. J. 775 

Wagoner, George b '66 

Wagoner, Ella Merrell b '68 

Wagoner, Rhoda b '68 

Wagoner, Rachel b '68 

Walker, John b '64 

Webb, Ida Opcdyke b '92 

Webb, William b '94 

Williamson, Jane Hummer b '61 

Williamson, Barton H b '93 

Wallace, Martha Sutphin b '78 

Woodruff, Gideon e '87 

Woodruff, Nancy Case l '87 

Woodruff, Addie W b '87 

Woodruff, Edward b '87 

Yard, Mary Mason b '56 

Young, Julia Higgins b '64 

Young, Augustus b '90 

Young, Elizabeth Dailey b '90 

Zwicky, George b '97 



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